Abstract
As is well known, the late Husserl warned against the dangers of reifying and objectifying the mathematical models that operate at the heart of our physical theories. Although Husserl’s worries were mainly directed at Galilean physics, the first aim of our paper is to show that many of his critical arguments are no less relevant today. By addressing the formalism and current interpretations of quantum theory, we illustrate how topics surrounding the mathematization of nature come to the fore naturally. Our second aim is to consider the program of reconstructing quantum theory, a program that currently enjoys popularity in the field of quantum foundations. We will conclude by arguing that, seen from this vantage point, certain insights delivered by phenomenology and quantum theory regarding perspectivity are remarkably concordant. Our overall hope with this paper is to show that there is much room for mutual learning between phenomenology and modern physics.
Highlights
It is no overstatement to say that Husserl’s last major publication The Crisis of European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology is a key text in twentieth century philosophy of science
As is well known, the late Husserl warned against the dangers of reifying and objec‐ tifying the mathematical models that operate at the heart of our physical theories
Instrumental to the overall argu‐ ment in the Crisis is what Husserl refers to as mathematization, i.e. the cognitive process that allows us to turn reality into a “mathematical manifold.”[3]. The aim of this paper is to argue that, Husserl does nowhere explicitly deal with twen‐ tieth century physics, his description and critical analysis of mathematization can serve as a fruitful framework for interpretational questions about quantum physics
Summary
Husserl’s Philosophy of Science and the Semantic Approach. Naturwiss 23:807, English translation in Wheeler and Zurek (1983) Quantum Theory and Measurement, Princeton: Princeton University Press. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Tokyo Wiltsche, H. Mechanics Lost: Husserl’s Galileo and Ihde’s Telescope. (forthcoming) Physics with a human face: Husserl and weyl on realism, idealism, and the nature of the coordinate system. Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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