Abstract
Starting from the observation that neither probability can be founded on experience nor experience on probability, Weizsäcker gives a presentation of his foundations of probability, leading to the definition that probability is predicted relative frequency. After a digression into the question of empirical determination of probabilities, he discusses methodological aspects of a ‘reconstruction’ of quantum theory and then gives another account of his proposal for such a reconstruction: Similar in its result to the account given in “Quantum Theory” (Chap. 7), it is a different presentation that may be read as a comment to the other one.
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Notes
- 1.
This chapter was first published in: British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 24 (1973): 321–337; it was republished in: The Structure of Physics (Heidelberg: Springer, 2006), which is a translation of: Aufbau der Physik (Munich: Hanser, 1985): 100–111.
- 2.
This formulation was proposed by Drieschner (1967).
- 3.
Cf. Weizsäcker (1992): I 4.
- 4.
Cf. Weizsäcker (1992): I 3 and I 4.
- 5.
- 6.
Added by the ed.MD.
- 7.
Cf. Weizsäcker (1992): II.4.3.
- 8.
Cf. Weizsäcker (1992): II.4.4b.
- 9.
Weizsäcker chose the word ‘Kreisgang’ to characterize his overall philosophical method. The term is difficult to translate (and is not a common German notion, either). It is used as a technical term throughout Weizsäcker 2006. In its literal meaning it refers to a ‘circular movement’ of knowledge and cognition. The largest circle possible is captured by Weizsäcker’s often used phrase: “Nature is older than humankind, humankind is older than natural science”, which should indicate that there is no hierarchy of cognition, but that it is necessary to circle back to former insights again and again, every time on a new level of knowledge. Eds. of v. Weizsäcker ( 2006 ) and of this volume.
- 10.
Lorenz (1978).
- 11.
cf. Heisenberg (1971).
- 12.
We follow the layout and sometimes the wording of the presentation in Weizsäcker (1980): II.5.4. Addendum by the ed.MD: That presentation is reprinted in this volume as “Quantum Theory”, part d, because it differs in many details from the present one.
- 13.
v. Weizsäcker (1992).
- 14.
With the trivial exception of the “always false proposition” ⋀, which, by definition, implies any proposition—ex falso quodlibet.
- 15.
References
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von Weizsäcker, C.F. (2014). Probability and Abstract Quantum Theory. In: Drieschner, M. (eds) Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker: Major Texts in Physics. SpringerBriefs on Pioneers in Science and Practice(), vol 22. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03668-7_8
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