QUANTUM METAPHYSICS - E-thesis

of the conception of reality adopted at the turn of the modern era. 601
Physicists generally acknowledge Bohr’s authority as a Nobel prize winning physicist and
developer of the atomic model. Also, the Copenhagen interpretation and the concept of
complementarity are usually referred in standard introductory books on quantum mechanics,
even if these texts almost systematically avoid the problems in interpreting the theory. In general,
however, the philosophical content of Bohr’s thoughts are not made any more explicit, and many
physicists, starting with Bell, have understood his way of thinking in an incorrect manner 602 .
Since Bohr did not make an attempt to understand the nature of reality within the limited
framework of the classical paradigm of physics, many physicist now consider his arcane thinking
and interpretation as having corrupted subsequent generations of physicists. The propagator of a
clarification in the concept of reality has begun to be seen as a scapegoat for the long unresolved
problem of interpreting quantum mechanics. 603 Even in works which deal with the interpretation,
many blatant misconceptions concerning Bohr’s viewpoints are commonplace. For example,
against obvious evidence Roland Omnes claims that Bohr accepted the projection postulate
concerning measurements, and that his authority thus led research in a wrong direction. Also,
according to David Deutsch, Bohr supported the idea that consciousness was a kind of causal
factor which reduced the state function. 604
Bohr’s background gave him a sound basis for what he was to do. He was born into a respected
Danish academic family and throughout his life, enjoyed unreserved support and encouragement
from those close to him. To entice the developer of the atomic model back to Denmark, thus with
Copenhagen University offered the 30-year-old Bohr a professorship. The Danish state and
private associations soon established the Institute for Theoretical Physics, and as a director of his
own research institute, Bohr was able to invite his own choice of researchers and continue his
own research work in stimulating and productive interaction with these individuals. Bohr’s
public activities involved a steady procession of accolades. Even during his time as a student, he
received the gold metal of the Danish Science Academy for his research into the oscillating
surface tension of liquids. This was followed by the Nobel prize for his research into atomic
601
For more details see Kallio-Tamminen 1994.
602
Arkady Plotnitsky in his presentation at the conference ”Towards a science of consciousness” in Skövde in
Sweden 7-11.8.2001.
603
Bohr’s views are criticised, for example, in Bub 1974, 45 and Deutsch 1997, 327-328. According to Bub’s
analysis, Bohr was a remarkably-successful propagandist.
604
Omnes 1999,155-157. Deutsch 1997, 327-328. Bohr does not need the projection postulate, with or without
consciousness, and nowhere does he present this kind of idea. Murdoch 1987, 126. Bohr’s thoughts concerning the
measurement problen are discussed in Section 4.3.6.
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