Abstract

Some considerations are presented on the so called “ontological interpretations” of quantum physics, starting from a remark by Werner Heisenberg on the relation between the probabilistic character of quantum states and the Aristotelian notion of “potency”. We show how an interesting revival of the original idea by Heisenberg can be found in the recent scientific and epistemological literature, in order to solve some paradoxical aspects emerging within some of the usual interpretations of quantum physics. Moreover a way seems to be open in order to rediscover the role of Aristotelian-Thomistic notion of “analogy” of “causal agents” operating even in the physical world. The “Potency-Act” interpretation of quantum physics appears aside the role of the Aristotelian notion of “Form” when it is compared with the recent notion of “information” in the context of the physics of “complex systems” and the biology of “living systems”.

Highlights

  • We show how an interesting revival of the original idea by Heisenberg can be found in the recent scientific and epistemological literature, in order to solve some paradoxical aspects emerging within some of the usual interpretations of quantum physics

  • The “Potency-Act” interpretation of quantum physics appears aside the role of the Aristotelian notion of “Form” when it is compared with the recent notion of “information” in the context of the physics of “complex systems” and the biology of “living systems”

  • In the present paper we propose some informal comments on the “ontological” interpretations of quantum physics starting from Heisenberg’s suggestion of comparing qualitatively some quantum results with the Aristotelian-Thomistic “Potency-Act” theory

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Summary

Introduction

In the present paper we propose some informal comments on the “ontological” interpretations of quantum physics starting from Heisenberg’s suggestion of comparing qualitatively some quantum results with the Aristotelian-Thomistic “Potency-Act” theory. After presenting a sketch of the most referenced “ontological” interpretations of quantum mechanics, and more generally of quantum physics (here both referenced shortly as QM), in Section 2, we propose to reconsider, as especially “up to date”, Heisenberg’s suggestion of retaining QM as a sort of contemporary re-

Strumia DOI
Conventional Interpretations of QM
Heisenberg’s Interpretation of QM and the Aristotelian “Potency-Act” Theory
The “Potency-Act” Interpretation after Heisenberg
Different Types of Causal Agents
The Example of the “Beam Splitter” Interferometer
The Quantum Fluctuation of Vacuum
Conclusions
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