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Interpreting Quantum Particles as Conceptual Entities

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Abstract

We elaborate an interpretation of quantum physics founded on the hypothesis that quantum particles are conceptual entities playing the role of communication vehicles between material entities composed of ordinary matter which function as memory structures for these quantum particles. We show in which way this new interpretation gives rise to a natural explanation for the quantum effects of interference and entanglement by analyzing how interference and entanglement emerge for the case of human concepts. We put forward a scheme to derive a metric based on similarity as a predecessor for the structure of ‘space, time, momentum, energy’ and ‘quantum particles interacting with ordinary matter’ underlying standard quantum physics, within the new interpretation, and making use of aspects of traditional quantum axiomatics. More specifically, we analyze how the effect of non-locality arises as a consequence of the confrontation of such an emerging metric type of structure and the remaining presence of the basic conceptual structure on the fundamental level, with the potential of being revealed in specific situations.

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  1. Center Leo Apostel for Interdisciplinary Studies and Departments of Mathematics and Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1160, Brussels, Belgium

    Diederik Aerts

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  1. Diederik Aerts
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Aerts, D. Interpreting Quantum Particles as Conceptual Entities. Int J Theor Phys 49, 2950–2970 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10773-010-0440-0

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