"In the early 1960s, quantum physics was regarded as one of the most successful theories of all time. It explained a wide range of phenomena to an unprecedented level of accuracy, from the structure of atoms and the formation of chemical bonds, to how lasers and superconductors worked. For some, it was more than just a theory, providing an all-encompassing framework for understanding the micro-world of elementary particles."
"The debate that resulted not only opened the door to new ways of thinking about those foundations, but also had tucked away within it, overlooked by all the participants at the time, an entirely different philosophical perspective on quantum physics - one that can be traced back to the phenomenological philosopher Edmund Husserl. The impact of that shift in perspective is only now being fully appreciated, offering an entirely novel understanding of quantum mechanics,"
In the early 1960s quantum physics achieved unprecedented empirical success, explaining atomic structure, chemical bonding, lasers, and superconductors. Despite that success, core foundations of the standard framework rested on unstable assumptions about measurement. Hilary Putnam identified a profound measurement problem while responding to an alleged resolution of the EPR paradox. That debate exposed neglected conceptual issues and simultaneously contained an alternative philosophical perspective traceable to Edmund Husserl's phenomenology. The Husserlian perspective reframes quantum mechanics by emphasizing the role of observation, experience, and intentionality in constituting scientific objects. The resulting shift challenges conventional separations between philosophy and science and encourages reevaluation of foundational methodology.
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