scholarly journals Observability, Unobservability and the Copenhagen Interpretation in Dirac's Methodology of Physics

Quanta ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Oldofredi ◽  
Michael Esfeld
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Copenhagen Interpretation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Present Essay ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Methodological Principles ◽  
The One

Paul Dirac has been undoubtedly one of the central figures of the last century physics, contributing in several and remarkable ways to the development of quantum mechanics; he was also at the centre of an active community of physicists, with whom he had extensive interactions and correspondence. In particular, Dirac was in close contact with Bohr, Heisenberg and Pauli. For this reason, among others, Dirac is generally considered a supporter of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. Similarly, he was considered a physicist sympathetic with the positivistic attitude which shaped the development of quantum theory in the 1920s. Against this background, the aim of the present essay is twofold: on the one hand, we will argue that, analyzing specific examples taken from Dirac's published works, he can neither be considered a positivist nor a physicist methodologically guided by the observability doctrine. On the other hand, we will try to disentangle Dirac's figure from the mentioned Copenhagen interpretation, since in his long career he employed remarkably different—and often contradicting—methodological principles and philosophical perspectives with respect to those followed by the supporters of that interpretation.Quanta 2019; 8: 68–87.

scholarly journals Onnipotenza divina e ordine naturale nel Medioevo

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Possamai
Keyword(s):  
Thomas Aquinas ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Ancient World ◽  
The Other ◽  
Augustine Of Hippo ◽  
The Past ◽  
Present Essay ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Pliny The Elder ◽  
The One

The present essay aims, on the one hand, to recall the reasons of anti-naturalism, intended in a metaphysical perspective, of a large part of medieval philosophical and theological reflection and, on the other hand, to show how the same type of problems, specifically those concerning the possible mutability or immutability of the past, can be employed in favour of various conflicting positions on the matter. To demonstrate this, reference was made to some thinkers who could represent emblematic positions on the theme, in particular: Pliny the Elder for the ancient world, Augustine of Hippo, Peter Damian, Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas for the medieval era.

scholarly journals Hegel’s Lectures on the History of Modern Philosophy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin de Boer
Keyword(s):  
Modern Philosophy ◽  
History Of Philosophy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Methodological Principles ◽  
The One

This chapter examines Hegel’s lectures on the history of modern philosophy in view of the tension between, on the one hand, his ambition to grasp philosophy’s past in a truly philosophical way and, on the other hand, the necessity to account for the actual particularities of a wide range of philosophical systems. Hegel’s lectures are put in relief by comparing their methodological principles to those put forward by his Kantian predecessor Tennemann. After discussing Hegel’s conception of modern philosophy as a whole, the chapter turns to his reading of Locke, Leibniz, and, in particular, Kant. In this context, it also compares Hegel’s assessment of Kant’s achievements to that of Tennemann. The chapter concludes by considering Hegel’s account of the final moment of the history of philosophy.

scholarly journals The Modal-Hamiltonian Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics as a Kind of “Atomic” Interpretation

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Sebastián Ardenghi ◽  
Olimpia Lombardi
Keyword(s):  
Hilbert Space ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum State ◽  
The Other ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Modal Interpretation ◽  
Atomic Systems ◽  
Modal Interpretations ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship

Modal interpretations are non-collapse interpretations, where the quantum state of a system describes its possible properties rather than the properties that it actually possesses. Among them, the atomic modal interpretation (AMI) assumes the existence of a special set of disjoint systems that fixes the preferred factorization of the Hilbert space. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the AMI and our recently presented modal-hamiltonian interpretation (MHI), by showing that the MHI can be viewed as a kind of “atomic” interpretation in two different senses. On the one hand, the MHI provides a precise criterion for the preferred factorization of the Hilbert space into factors representing elemental systems. On the other hand, the MHI identifies the atomic systems that represent elemental particles on the basis of the Galilei group. Finally, we will show that the MHI also introduces a decomposition of the Hilbert space of any elemental system, which determines with precision what observables acquire definite actual values.

scholarly journals La guerre des six jours et la presse Française : essai d'analyse

Res Publica ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 617-644
Author(s):  
Paul Henriet
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
The Other ◽  
Complete Sample ◽  
Present Essay ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The One ◽  
Quantitative Approaches

The present essay aims at defining the attitude of the French press towards the conflict of May/]une 1967 between Israel and Arab countries.As a thematic analysis of a representative sample of daily, weekly and monthly newspapers, covering bath periods of the preceding diplomatic antagonism and of the actual war, the article comprises a number of quantitative approaches which, as they complement each other, lead to certain conclusions in respect, on the one hand, of the particular newspaper analysed and, on the other hand, of the complete sample under observation. This method makes it possible to bring to light the fundamental pro-Israel and anti-Arab leanings of the sample, as they reflect the pre-existent attitudes of French public opinion. It also reveals that the only pro-Arab and anti-Israel newspaper are those that belang at the far left end of the sample.These factors lead to hypothesize that the disposition which favoured Israel sprung in fact not from any special sympathy towards Jewry, but from a feeling of bond with a mode of civilisation as represented by the Western and pro-Western characteristics of Israel.

Anthropic Contingency

2020 ◽  
pp. 185-197
Author(s):  
Alastair Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Cosmological Parameters ◽  
Selection Effect ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Correct Interpretation ◽  
The One ◽  
Observation Selection

Distinguish contingency in general from anthropic contingency. The former is what really could happen; the latter is what really could be observed to happen. Quantum histories which host no life cannot, as a matter of obvious necessity, be observed. This distinction generates an anthropic observation selection effect, which has been employed in response to the fine-tuning argument for the design hypothesis. This chapter argues that fine-tuning is a genuine phenomenon that cries out for explanation; that in one-world approaches to quantum theory a chancy determination of cosmological parameters would render the one universe we are in preposterously lucky; that no preposterous luck is required from the perspective of quantum modal realism; and that the correct interpretation of quantum mechanics turns out to have a significant evidential bearing on the design question.

WHY IRREVERSIBILITY? THE FORMULATION OF CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS FOR NONINTEGRABLE SYSTEMS

1995 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
ILYA PRIGOGINE
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Quantum Dynamics ◽  
Probability Distributions ◽  
Classical Trajectory ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Density Matrices ◽  
The One ◽  
Classical And Quantum Mechanics

Nonintegrable Poincaré systems with continuous spectrum (so-called Large Poincaré Systems, LPS) lead to the appearance of diffusive terms in the framework of dynamics. These terms break time symmetry. They lead, therefore, to limitations to classical trajectory dynamics and of wave functions. These diffusive terms correspond to well-defined classes of dynamical processes (i.e., so-called “vacuum-vacuum” transitions). The diffusive effects are amplified in situations corresponding to persistent interactions. As a result, we have to include already in the fundamental dynamical description the two aspects, probability and irreversibility, which are so conspicuous on the macroscopic level. We have to formulate both classical and quantum mechanics on the Liouville level of probability distributions (or density matrices). For integrable systems, we recover the usual formulations of classical or quantum mechanics. Instead of being irreducible concepts, which cannot be further analyzed, trajectories and wave functions appear as special solutions of the Liouville-von Neumann equations. This extension of classical and quantum dynamics permits us to unify the two concepts of nature we inherited from the 19th century, based on the one hand on dynamical time-reversible laws and on the other on an evolutionary view associated to entropy. It leads also to a unified formulation of quantum theory avoiding the conventional dual structure based on Schrödinger’s equation on the one hand, and on the “collapse” of the wave function on the other. A dynamical interpretation is given to processes such as decoherence or approach to equilibrium without any appeal to extra dynamic considerations (such as the many-world theory, coarse graining or averaging over the environment). There is a striking parallelism between classical and quantum theory. For LPS we have, in general, both a “collapse” of trajectories and of wave functions for LPS. In both cases, we need a generalized formulation of dynamics in terms of probability distributions or density matrices. Since the beginning of this century, we know that classical mechanics had to be generalized to take into account the existence of universal constants. We now see that classical as well as quantum mechanics also have to be extended to include unstable dynamical systems such as LPS. As a result, we achieve a new formulation of "laws of physics" dealing no more with certitudes but with probabilities. The formulation is appropriate to describe an open, evolving universe.

ENTANGLEMENT, LOCALITY, AND SEPARABILITY: A TREATISE ON DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS

2007 ◽  
Vol 05 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
THOMAS KESSEMEIER ◽  
THOMAS KRÜGER
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Statistical Interpretation ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Bell’S Inequality ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Common ◽  
Statistical Operator ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Non Locality

Within the framework of a statistical interpretation of quantum mechanics, entanglement (in a mathematical sense) manifests itself in the non-separability of the statistical operator ρ representing the ensemble in question. In experiments, on the other hand, entanglement can be detected, in the form of non-locality, by the violation of Bell's inequality Δ ≤ 2. How can these different viewpoints be reconciled? We first show that (non-)separability follows different laws to (non-)locality, and, moreover, it is much more difficult to characterize as long as the mostly employed operational rather than an ontic definition of separability is used. In consequence, (i) "entanglement" has two different meanings which may or may not be realized simultaneously on one and the same ensemble, and (ii) we have to disadvise the use of the common separability definition which is still employed by the majority of the physical community.

La musique – Discours national ou langage universel?

1988 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang S. Freund
Keyword(s):  
Classical Music ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
The Other ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Universal Language ◽  
Present Essay ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Eastern Music ◽  
The One ◽  
The Military

SummaryThe present essay questions the idea generally admitted that „music” could be, under all circumstances, an universal language likely to pull down ideological borders and prejudices between people and civilizations. For his argument, the author takes advantage of the opposition prevailing between european and middle-eastern music on the one hand, pointing out on the other hand the importance of different kinds of music such as classical music, light music, music for publicity, as well as military music. The military music is understood in terms of an epistemological code for different artistico-cultural articulations, specific to highly industrialized countries. In conclusion, the author is forwarding substantial doubts as to understanding music as language without borders, insisting on its socio-cultural, and therefore regional profiles.

scholarly journals El vídeo, el cómic y el rap: una forma diferente de desbloquear al candidato del DELE

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florencia Battagliero Bocco ◽  
José Vicente Fontana Oltra ◽  
Marta Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
The Other ◽  
Río De La Plata ◽  
La Plata ◽  
Present Essay ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The One ◽  
Oral Interaction ◽  
Sobre Todo ◽  
Do So

Resumen: El objetivo del presente artículo es trabajar y reforzar las destrezas y competencias necesarias para aprobar el Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera. Para ello, se planteará una serie de recursos que buscan desbloquear al estudiante en un ambiente distendido, sobre todo los días previos al examen. La propuesta se centrará en la Prueba de Expresión e Interacción Orales, concretamente en la tarea 3 del nivel B1 y en la tarea 2 del nivel B2, que corresponden a la descripción de una fotografía. Se empleará, por una parte, un vídeo de carácter estático (donde el interlocutor no expresa movimientos corporales pronunciados) y por otra, cómics de Argentina que a su vez servirán para ampliar el léxico en la variante rioplatense. Por último, se tratará el uso del rap como herramienta para mejorar la pronunciación, entonación y el empleo del lenguaje no verbal. Palabras claves: DELE, vídeo, cómic, rap. Abstract: The purpose of the following essay is to train and to strengthen the skills and the competences required to pass the “Spanish as a Foreign Language Certificate”. In order to do so, we will first consider various resources which aim to release students from any kind of stress by setting up a relaxed atmosphere – especially a few days before the exam. The focus of the present essay has to be linked to the Expression and Oral Interaction tests and above all to the assignments 3 (B1 level) and 2 (B2 level), and their picture descriptions. On the one hand, we will use a static video and, on the other hand, we will tackle Argentinian comics in order to expand students’ knowledge of the Río de la Plata lexicon. Finally, we will deal with the use of rap as a tool to improve pronunciation, intonation, and non-verbal communication.Key words: DELE, video, comic, rap.

scholarly journals El vídeo, el cómic y el rap: una forma diferente de desbloquear al candidato del DELE

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florencia Battagliero Bocco ◽  
José Vicente Fontana Oltra ◽  
Marta Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
The Other ◽  
Río De La Plata ◽  
La Plata ◽  
Present Essay ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The One ◽  
Oral Interaction ◽  
Sobre Todo ◽  
Do So

Resumen: El objetivo del presente artículo es trabajar y reforzar las destrezas y competencias necesarias para aprobar el Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera. Para ello, se planteará una serie de recursos que buscan desbloquear al estudiante en un ambiente distendido, sobre todo los días previos al examen. La propuesta se centrará en la Prueba de Expresión e Interacción Orales, concretamente en la tarea 3 del nivel B1 y en la tarea 2 del nivel B2, que corresponden a la descripción de una fotografía. Se empleará, por una parte, un vídeo de carácter estático (donde el interlocutor no expresa movimientos corporales pronunciados) y por otra, cómics de Argentina que a su vez servirán para ampliar el léxico en la variante rioplatense. Por último, se tratará el uso del rap como herramienta para mejorar la pronunciación, entonación y el empleo del lenguaje no verbal. Palabras claves: DELE, vídeo, cómic, rap. Abstract: The purpose of the following essay is to train and to strengthen the skills and the competences required to pass the “Spanish as a Foreign Language Certificate”. In order to do so, we will first consider various resources which aim to release students from any kind of stress by setting up a relaxed atmosphere – especially a few days before the exam. The focus of the present essay has to be linked to the Expression and Oral Interaction tests and above all to the assignments 3 (B1 level) and 2 (B2 level), and their picture descriptions. On the one hand, we will use a static video and, on the other hand, we will tackle Argentinian comics in order to expand students’ knowledge of the Río de la Plata lexicon. Finally, we will deal with the use of rap as a tool to improve pronunciation, intonation, and non-verbal communication.Key words: DELE, video, comic, rap.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document