This week marks the centenary of quantum mechanics' discovery on Helgoland Island, initiated by Werner Heisenberg. Despite significant advancements in quantum technology, fundamental disagreements persist regarding its conceptual interpretation. The physicist-philosopher divide is evident, particularly surrounding the 'measurement problem,' which emphasizes observers' roles. While many physicists argue this emphasis is crucial for deeper understanding, philosophers seek a coherent account of quantum theory's implications for reality. There are hopes of reconciling these differences by revisiting long-standing ideas in the field.
...the textbook formulation of quantum mechanics has a 'measurement problem' - an unmanageable emphasis on the role of observers and their observations that makes it impossible to even begin to answer questions about the theory's connection to the structure of reality.
Though physicists are best placed to develop and extend the mathematical framework of quantum theory, philosophers of physics are needed to come to conceptual grips with the results.
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