Abstract
In recent years, the term “quantum-like” has been increasingly used in different disciplines, including neurosciences, psychological and socio-economical disciplines, claiming that some investigated phenomena show “something” in common with quantum processes and, therefore, they can be modeled using a sort of quantum formalism. Thus, the increasing use of the term “quantum-like” calls for defining and sharing its meaning in order to adopt it properly and avoid possible misuse. There is a fil rouge linking both pre-Socratic and Eastern philosophies and quantum physics, suggesting an epistemological symmetry between them. In our opinion, the concept of “quantum-like” may be successfully applied to macroscopic phenomena and empirical sciences other than physics when the following two conditions are satisfied: (a) the behavior of the investigated phenomena show logical analogies with quantum phenomena; (b) it is possible to find a criterion of truth based on an experiential/scientific approach applied to a probabilistic model of description of the phenomena. This is only a first small step in the approach to the concept of “quantum-like”, which will hopefully be helpful in promoting further discussion and achieving a better definition.
Highlights
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All that remains is more and more precise measurement”. It was only a brief Victorian calm before the quantum storm unleashed by Max Planck; the revolution he introduced on 8th October of the same year is known today as quantum physics
It initiated a slow cultural evolution that over after 120 years from its introduction, has extended far beyond the boundaries of physics to spread to other disciplines and every aspect of life, promising to yield a shift of paradigm and a change of Weltbild
Summary
The Latin term res (from Sanskrit rah. , “thing, ownership, wealth”) has been widely used in philosophy to define the nature of reality, from the De Rerum Natura (The Way Thing Are) by Titus Lucretius Carus (based on Democritus’ atomism) to the Cartesian concepts of res cogitans and res extensa. Any res is generally considered to exist as a separate entity, while, from a linguistic standpoint, the term is used to name an undefined object or entity In this context, one can use the term res to deal with physical objects, using it in the singular or the plural form as appropriate. Since physics (from Greek φυσις) is the first and fundamental reality—the principle and cause of all things—and the pre-Socratic philosophers were considered physicoi (physicists), the term “physics” has been generally regarded as synonymous with nature. It follows that the meaning of De Rerum Natura is an attempt to explain physical phenomena, in a broad sense, rationally. It seems appropriate to add the term “like” to the definition of “quantum”—viz., Symmetry 2022, 14, 480 quantum-like—when dealing with phenomena in other fields of knowledge showing some likeness with those described by quantum physics
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