Struktura rewolucji relatywistycznej i kwantowej w fizyce, czyli o systematyczności badań naukowych i roli kantyzmu we współczesnej filozofii nauki

The article is a voice in the discussion on Wojciech Sady’s book Struktura rewolucji relatywistycznej i kwantowej w fizyce [The Structure of Relativistic and Quantum Revolution in Physics]. The author points out that the central idea of this book directly refers to the works of Thomas Kuhn, who emphasized the role of revolutions in the process of scientific development. Sady criticizes this position, claiming that the development of science is primarily determined by systematic research. The author also argues with Sady’s thesis that an important consequence of the relativistic and quantum revolution in physics is the fundamental questioning of the value of Kant’s philosophy. The text tries to show that Kantism is still present in contemporary philosophy of science.

Czy teza o niedookreśleniu teorii przez dane doświadczenia czyni sukcesy nauki cudem?

In his book Struktura rewolucji relatywistycznej i kwantowej w fizyce [The Structure of Relativistic and Quantum Revolution in Physics] Wojciech Sady presents a view on the thesis of underdetermination, according to which it should be regarded as a pseudoproblem of contemporary philosophy of science. I reject this view and suggest that Sady’s argumentation against the thesis of underdetermination is tantamount to attacking a straw man. This is because he argues against its correctness by pointing to the incorrectness of the conclusions he unjustifiably draws from it.

Równania mądrzejsze od swych odkrywców

This article aims to critically analyse the concept of the development of science, as proposed by Wojciech Sady in the work Struktura rewolucji relatywistycznej i kwantowej w fizyce [The Structure of the Relativity and Quantum Revolution in Physics]. The author uses Ludwik Fleck’s concept of thought styles and thought collectives to analyse the problem of how two great scientific revolutions took place in 20th-Century physics in terms of the rise of quantum theory and special relativity. Sady argues that the way of thinking of scientists is determined by the particular thought style in which they were educated, and that great scientific discoveries are not the result of “creative imagination”, but a product of deductive reasoning, in which scholars closely adhere to the formalism of mathematical theory and the results of experiments. Therefore, scientific discovery in physics is made “on paper” rather than “in the mind of a scientist.” In the “battle of equations with the imagination,” equations always win, and scientific discovery is more a result of the work of a scientific community than solitary geniuses, and can only be made at the right time in history, called the “discoverygenic situation.” The concept of the development of science presented in The Structure is directed against the incommensurability thesis and the indeterminacy thesis.

The Alchemical Body of Carl Jung

This chapter traces the subtle body concept through the work of Carl Jung, who is introduced to the idea by G. R. S. Mead’s theosophical books. After tracing Jung’s early engagement with the Orient, the chapter moves to an analysis of the subtle body concept in his work, specifically in his engagements with Eastern traditions: Daoism, Kundalini Yoga, and Tibetan Bardo Yoga. After examining Jung’s use of the subtle body concept in his translation-commentaries on Eastern texts, the chapter turns to how Jung incorporates the concept into his own psychology of individuation based on the techniques of active imagination and dream analysis. The chapter turns to Jung’s seminars on Nietzsche, where he presents the subtle body concept with a unique dose of critical reflexivity and Kantian rigor. It ends with Jung’s late-life speculation about a future where, following the quantum revolution and spitting of the atom, humans evolve into subtle body–dwelling creatures who occupy a world of psychical substance.

The quantum revolution

Welcome to this special issue celebrating the rise of quantum technologies.

The Quantum Internet

Following the emergence of quantum computing, the subsequent quantum revolution will be that of interconnecting individual quantum computers at the global level. In the same way that classical computers only realised their full potential with the emergence of the internet, a fully-realised quantum internet is the next stage of evolution for quantum computation. This cutting-edge book examines in detail how the quantum internet would evolve in practise, focusing not only on the technology itself, but also the implications it will have economically and politically, with numerous non-technical sections throughout the text providing broader context to the discussion. The book begins with a description of classical networks before introducing the key concepts behind quantum networks, such as quantum internet protocols, quantum cryptography, and cloud quantum computing. Written in an engaging style and accessible to graduate students in physics, engineering, computer science and mathematics.

Entanglement protection of classically driven qubits in a lossy cavity

Quantum technologies able to manipulating single quantum systems, are presently developing. Among the dowries of the quantum realm, entanglement is one of the basic resources for the novel quantum revolution. Within this context, one is faced with the problem of protecting the entanglement when a system state is manipulated. In this paper, we investigate the effect of the classical driving field on the generation entanglement between two qubits interacting with a bosonic environment. We discuss the effect of the classical field on the generation of entanglement between two (different) qubits and the conditions under which it has a constructive role in protecting the initial-state entanglement from decay induced by its environment. In particular, in the case of similar qubits, we locate a stationary sub-space of the system Hilbert space, characterized by states non depending on the environment properties as well as on the classical driving-field. Thus, we are able to determine the conditions to achieve maximally entangled stationary states after a transient interaction with the environment. We show that, overall, the classical driving field has a constructive role for the entanglement protection in the strong coupling regime. Also, we illustrate that a factorable initial-state can be driven in an entangled state and, even, in an entangled steady-state after the interaction with the environment.

Quantum technologies in the telecommunications industry

Quantum based technologies have been fundamental in our world. After producing the laser and the transistor, the devices that have shaped our modern information society, the possibilities enabled by the ability to create and manipulate individual quantum states opens the door to a second quantum revolution. In this paper we explore the possibilities that these new technologies bring to the Telecommunications industry.