The Quantum World Philosophical Debates on Quantum Physics [Hardcover]

In this largely nontechnical book, eminent physicists and philosophers address the philosophical impact of recent advances in quantum physics. These are shown to shed new light on profound questions about realism, determinism, causality or locality. The participants contribute in the spirit of an open and honest discussion, reminiscent of the time when science and philosophy were inseparable. After the editors introduction, the next chapter reveals the strangeness of quantum mechanics and the subsequent discussions examine our notion of reality. The spotlight is then turned to the topic of decoherence. Bohms theory is critically examined in two chapters, and the relational interpretation of quantum mechanics is likewise described and discussed. The penultimate chapter presents a proposal for resolving the measurement problem, and finally the topic of loop quantum gravity is presented by one of its founding fathers, Carlo Rovelli.

The original presentations and discussions on which this volume is based took place under the auspices of the French Acad?mie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. The book will appeal to everybody interested in knowing how our description of the world is impacted by the results of the most powerful and successful theory that physicists have ever built.

Introduction.- A Journey through the Quantum World (Bernard dEspagnat & Herv? Zwirn).- The inescapable strangeness of the quantum world (?douard Br?zin).- Quantum physics appearance and reality, Exchange of views.- Experimental aspects of decoherence (Jean-Michel Raimond).- Theoretical aspects of decoherence, Exchange of views.- The Pilot Wave Theory of Louis de Broglie and David Bohm (Franck Lalo?).- The Pilot Wave Theory: problems and difficulties (Franck Lalo?).- Relational interpretation of quantum mechanics and the EPR paradox (Matteo Smerlak).- Exchange of views on the relational interpretation and Bell.- The theory of measuremlÂ