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Reality in Quantum Mechanics
[ This is not exactly "Hindu" philosophy, but since the concept of reality is
central to the "many interpretations" of the Vedanta, I thought it would be
interesting to see what the views of the physicist are.
The extracts are from Jim Baggott's "The meaning of Quantum Theory". The
author is well qualified to write this book, as he is, in his own words :-),
"Here I was, proud of my scientific qualifications and with almost 10 years'
experience in chemical physics research at various prestigious institions around
the world, and I was going around with a conception of reality that was
completely wrong!...I could not rest till I had all this sorted out...I bought
lots more books and spent hours trying to understand what was going on...
I persevered and managed to arrive at something approaching comprehension.
I decided to write it all out in a book...And this...is why YOU should read
this book".
The book is so well written that the philosophy of quantum theory would become
very clear even to those not familiar with QM. ]
Broadly speaking, there are two views of reality :-
1) Realism: Reality is independent of the observer. Even if there is no observer,
the world exists. (also called "naive realism".)
2) Positivism: Reality requires an observer. If no one observes the world, the
world doesn't exist.
Einstein was a realist. Bohr was a positivist.
Classical mechanics is realistic. Quantum Mechanics is positivistic.
Jim Baggott says,"...Bells' theorem says that my idea of maive realism is in
conflict with the predictions of quantum theory in a way that can be tested in
the laboratory in special experiments on pairs of quantum particles. These
experiments have been done: quantum theory had been proved right and naive
realism wrong!"
So laboratory experiments have "proven" that if there is no observer, there is
no reality!
Jim Baggott says,"If we accept von Neumann's and Wigner's arguments
about the role of consciousness in quantum physics, then our own conscious
selves become the most important things in the universe. Quite simply, without
conscious observers, there would be no physical reality. Instead of tiny cogs
forced to grind on endlessly in a reality not of our design, we become the
CREATORS of the universe. WE are the masters. [italics by the author]...However,
we should not get too carried away. Despite this changed role, it does not
necessarily follow that we have much freedom of choice in quantum physics.
When the wavefunction collapses...it does so unpredictably in a manner which
would seem beyond our control...We cannot choose what kind of reality we
would like to perceive beyond choosing the measurement eigenstates...our only
influence on matter is to make it real...
"Of course, the notion that a conscious mind is necessary to sustain reality
is not new to philosophers, although it is perhaps a novel experience to find it
advocated as a key explanation in one of the most important and successful of
twentieth century scientific theories."
That would sound good to the advaitins, eh? :-)
-Kartik
