[Paper Review] Physics and Commonsense - Reassessing the connection in the light of quantum theory

Ravi Gomatam|ArXiv.org|Aug 12, 2007

Philosophy and History of Science7 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper challenges the conventional view that naive realism fails at the quantum level by arguing instead that naive realism is fundamentally flawed even at the level of classical observations. Gomatam contends that quantum theory undermines the very foundation of commonsense realism in measurement, proposing a radical reassessment of how physics and everyday intuition connect, with implications for the interpretation of quantum mechanics and the nature of physical reality.

ABSTRACT

Scientific realism in classical (i.e. pre-quantum) physics has remained compatible with the naive realism of everyday thinking on the whole; whereas it has proven impossible to find any consistent way to visualize the world underlying quantum theory in terms of our pictures in the everyday world. The general conclusion is that in quantum theory naive realism, although necessary at the level of observations, fails at the microscopic level. In this paper I offer a counter view that what fails in quantum theory is naive realism at the level of observations itself.

Motivation & Objective

• To re-examine the relationship between physics and commonsense realism in light of quantum theory.
• To challenge the widely held belief that naive realism fails only at the microscopic quantum level.
• To argue that naive realism is inconsistent even at the level of observational experience.
• To propose a re-evaluation of the foundations of scientific realism in quantum mechanics.
• To explore the implications of quantum theory for our understanding of physical reality and perception.

Proposed method

• Analyzes the conceptual foundations of scientific realism in classical and quantum physics.
• Examines the role of observation and measurement in sustaining or undermining naive realism.
• Uses thought experiments and conceptual analysis to question the consistency of commonsense realism in quantum contexts.
• Compares classical and quantum frameworks to highlight contradictions in assuming a realist interpretation of observations.
• Argues that the failure of visualization in quantum theory stems not from quantum mechanics itself, but from the flawed assumption of realism in observation.
• Relies on philosophical and interpretational analysis rather than mathematical formalism to challenge prevailing views.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 Can naive realism be consistently applied to the results of quantum measurements?
• RQ2 Why does the failure to visualize quantum phenomena suggest a deeper conceptual flaw rather than a limitation of theory?
• RQ3 Is the breakdown of classical intuition in quantum mechanics due to the microscopic domain or the nature of observation itself?
• RQ4 Can scientific realism be maintained if even observations are not objectively real in a naive sense?
• RQ5 What are the implications of rejecting naive realism at the observational level for the interpretation of quantum mechanics?

Key findings

• Naive realism fails not only at the microscopic quantum level but also at the level of observation itself.
• The inability to visualize quantum systems is not a sign of incompleteness in quantum theory, but a symptom of deeper conceptual flaws in assuming realism at the observational level.
• Classical physics and quantum physics both rely on a form of realism, but quantum mechanics reveals that this realism is inconsistent with observation.
• The paper concludes that the connection between physics and commonsense is more tenuous than traditionally assumed, especially when quantum effects are considered.
• A radical rethinking of the relationship between observation, reality, and scientific theory is required to resolve foundational issues in quantum mechanics.