Dr Faustus of Modern Physics - Department of Speech, Music and ...

37.8. HEISENBERG 171
• If I were not thoroughly convinced that Bohr is honest and really believes
in the relevance of his - I do not say theory but - catchword
(complementarity), I should call it intellectually wicked.
• Most of my nearer colleagues (theoretical physicists) have formed the
opinion that I am - naturally enough - in love with “my” great success
in life (wave mechanics) reaped et the time I still had all my wits at
my command (in 1926 at the age of 36) and therefore, so they say,
I insist upon the view that “all is waves”. Old-age dot-age closes my
eyes towards the marvelous discovery of “complementarity”. So unable
is the good average theoretical physicist to believe that any sound person
could refuse to accept the Copenhagen oracle.
37.8 Heisenberg
• Bohr was trying to allow for the simultaneous existence of both particle
and wave concepts, holding that, though they were mutually exclusive,
both together were needed for a complete description of atomic processes.
• Bohr’s influence on the physics and the physicists of our century was
stronger than that of anyone else, even that of Einstein.
37.9 Richard Feynman NP in Physics 2965
• I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.
(Richard Feynman in The Character of Physical Law 1965).
37.10 Murray Gell-Mann NP in Physics 19??
• Quantum mechanics, that confusing discipline which none of us really
understands, but which we know how to use