Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics: From the Postscript to The Logic of Scientific Discovery

by Karl Popper

Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics is one of the three volumes of Karl Popperâ s Postscript to the Logic of scientific Discovery. The Postscript is the culmination of Popperâ s work in the philosophy of physics and a new famous attack on subjectivist approaches to philosophy of science. Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics is the third volume of the Postscript. It may be read independently, but it also forms part of Popperâ s interconnected argument in the Postscript. It presents Popperâ s classic statement on quantum physics and offers important insights into his thinking on problems of method within science and physics as a whole.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Physics, Nonfiction

300 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 1980

About the author

Sir Karl Raimund Popper, FRS, rose from a modest background as an assistant cabinet maker and school teacher to become one of the most influential theorists and leading philosophers. Popper commanded international audiences and conversation with him was an intellectual adventure—even if a little rough—animated by a myriad of philosophical problems. He contributed to a field of thought encompassing (among others) political theory, quantum mechanics, logic, scientific method and evolutionary theory.

Popper challenged some of the ruling orthodoxies of philosophy: logical positivism, Marxism, determinism and linguistic philosophy. He argued that there are no subject matters but only problems and our desire to solve them. He said that scientific theories cannot be verified but only tentatively refuted, and that the best philosophy is about profound problems, not word meanings. Isaiah Berlin rightly said that Popper produced one of the most devastating refutations of Marxism. Through his ideas Popper promoted a critical ethos, a world in which the give and take of debate is highly esteemed in the precept that we are all infinitely ignorant, that we differ only in the little bits of knowledge that we do have, and that with some co-operative effort we may get nearer to the truth.

Nearly every first-year philosophy student knows that Popper regarded his solutions to the problems of induction and the demarcation of science from pseudo-science as his greatest contributions. He is less known for the problems of verisimilitude, of probability (a life-long love of his), and of the relationship between the mind and body.

Popper was a Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the British Academy, and Membre de I'Institute de France. He was an Honorary member of the Harvard Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics, King's College London, and of Darwin College Cambridge. He was awarded prizes and honours throughout the world, including the Austrian Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold, the Lippincott Award of the American Political Science Association, and the Sonning Prize for merit in work which had furthered European civilization.

Karl Popper was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965 and invested by her with the Insignia of a Companion of Honour in 1982.

(edited from http://www.tkpw.net/intro_popper/intr...)

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

well done. may not be of worth to those without previous knowledge of the conceptual difficulties QM introduces, but still accessible and invigorating. Especially interesting when viewed from the point of view of string theory, which is in a sense anticipated by the philosophical framework outlined here. If nothing else, worth checking out for the history of research programmes in physics from Parmenides to Born presented in section 20.

[Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very opinionated on Popper's side. He has his own stand but not sure whether his comments do stand in front of physical theories. It is impressive of him to point out the differences of probability interpretation - namely propensity based and frequency based.

Equally impressive is the part that statistical statements are not necessarily probabilistic and vice versa - pointing out the idea that statistical statements are different fundamentally from probabilistic statements. Misuse of the two concepts may have impact(s) on the formulation of quantum theory especially if Copenhagen interpretation is used to interpret the meaning of the theory.

It discussed determinism vs indeterminism, realism vs instrumentalism view of scientific theories, and also how it may be wrong to say immediately that subjectivism has intruded physical theories. Also mentioned about how we might be wrong to claim that we can obtain statistical conclusions from non-statistical premises, which if scrutinized properly, might well be what quantum theory was doing.

[Craig Bolton]

Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics: From The Postscript to the Logic of Scientific Discovery by Karl Popper (1992)

[Paul Pinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Popper is very opinionated but offers good insights. I'm partial to the older books on Quantum theory since they tend to keep modern beliefs out of the discussion and focus on facts. I liked his insights on how Einstein viewed his own work. In a field that is still not understood different views are expected and valued. I found Poppers views to be brutally honest and devoid of the Hollywood sensationalism all to often found on this subject. I work on Quantum Phenomenology and found many of Poppers objections to be healthy criticism. I enjoy the Philosophy because it keeps theorists honest. If you believe in the paradigms of QM you might find some of this abrasive.