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Changing the Rules: A New Epistemology of Science

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The Conscious Universe
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Abstract

As we have seen, the central pillar of Bohr’s Copenhagen Interpretation is complementarity. The usual textbook definition of “complementarity” says that it applies to “apparently” incompatible constructs, such as waves and particles, or variables, such as position and momentum. Because one of the paired constructs or variables cannot define the situation in the quantum world in the absence of the other, both are required for a complete view of the actual physical situation. Thus a description of nature in this special case requires that the paired constructs or variables be viewed as complementary, meaning that both constitute a complete view of the situation but only one can be applied in a given situation. The textbook definition usually concludes with the passing comment that because the experimental situation determines which complementary construct or variable will be displayed, complementarity assumes that entities in the quantum world, like electrons or photons, do not have definite properties apart from our observation of them.

I am afraid of this word Reality.

Arthur Eddington

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Kafatos, M., Nadeau, R. (2000). Changing the Rules: A New Epistemology of Science. In: The Conscious Universe. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1308-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1308-6_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-98865-8

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