Philosophical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics

by Hans Reichenbach

Philosophical Foundations of Quantum MechanicsThose who are somewhat educated in the history of science and philosophy know that science and philosophy developed in the history of the West in an active interaction. Ancient philosophers (Aristotle, for example) were both philosophers and scientists, and modern scientists Descartes, Leibniz and Newton were also known as "natural philosophers." However, since the 19th century, when science has been highly specialized, science and philosophy have been separated from each other, and many believe that it is no longer possible to create meaningful interactions between the two disciplines. This book shows that this idea is a hasty judgment. The author, Reichenbach, analyzes quantum mechanics, the most representative physics theory of the twentieth century, in a precise rather than a superficial manner, which draws conclusions that are philosophically significant but also noteworthy for scientists. This book has three parts. Even those who are not very good at mathematics and physics can read part one of this book, as long as they have a high school-level knowledge of mathematics and science. Part 2 outlines the core of mathematical theory of quantum mechanics, and the discussion in Part 2 is the basis for the detailed analysis that follows in Part 3. The third part of the book deals with the interpretation of quantum mechanics based on the discussions of the first and second parts of the book, as well as the authors original assertion on how to solve the paradox of Einstein, Podolski, and Rosen, which were big controversies at the time. .

Paperback

Published March 31, 2014