Abstract
Popper's program in the foundations of quantum mechanics defending objectivity and realism developed out of a profound dissatisfaction with the point of view associated with Bohr, which is usually designated the Copenhagen interpretation. Here I will argue that while Popper's aim is a noble one, his program does not succeed on two counts: he does not succeed in showing that Bohr's philosophy must be rejected as a variety of subjectivism, and his alternative interpretation of indeterminacy rests on a highly questionable assumption according to which simultaneously precise conjugate parameters are possible. Nevertheless I like Popper's propensity interpretation of probability and think that the propensity idea deserves further research. Quanta 2012; 1: 33–57.
Highlights
I will argue that while Popper’s aim is a noble of Popper’s views
He has severely criticized does not succeed on two counts: he does not succeed in Bohr’s philosophy, calling it the “ruling dogma” [1, p. showing that Bohr’s philosophy must be rejected as a va7], and he presents his own interpretation of the quantum riety of subjectivism, and his alternative interpretation of indeterminacy rests on a highly questionable assumption
Copenhagen interpretation, the only objective theory of gives us a way to speak of probabilities as properties of probability under serious discussion was the relative fre- individual events and systems that Popper identifies it quency interpretation, which defines the probability of as the primary motivation for many physicists’ having one kind of event, called an outcome, as its frequency, interpreted quantum mechanical probabilities, and relative to other outcomes, in an infinite sequence of other the state function, in an epistemic, or, in Popper’s words, events, called trials
Summary
Popper’s program in the foundations of quan- theory as an explicit alternative. And yet, with the extum mechanics defending objectivity and real- ception of one essay by Paul Feyerabend [2, 3], no one ism developed out of a profound dissatisfaction who professes sympathy with Bohr’s interpretation has with the point of view associated with Bohr, which troubled to respond, in a systematic way, to Popper’s critis usually designated the Copenhagen interpretation. icism, nor have they undertaken a comprehensive critique. Copenhagen interpretation, the only objective theory of gives us a way to speak of probabilities as properties of probability under serious discussion was the relative fre- individual events and systems that Popper identifies it quency interpretation, which defines the probability of as the primary motivation for many physicists’ having one kind of event, called an outcome, as its frequency, interpreted quantum mechanical probabilities, and relative to other outcomes, in an infinite sequence of other the state function, in an epistemic, or, in Popper’s words, events, called trials.
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