Exploring Philosophical Implications of Quantum Decoherence

Abstract

Quantum decoherence is receiving a great deal of attention today not only in theoretical and experimental physics but also in branches of science as diverse as molecular biology, biochemistry, and even neuropsychology. It is no surprise that it is also beginning to appear in various philosophical debates concerning the fundamental structure of the world. The purpose of this article is primarily to acquaint non‐specialists with quantum decoherence and clarify related concepts, and secondly to sketch its possible implications – independent of particular interpretations of quantum mechanics – for broader philosophical debates. For example, decoherence shows that any method of parsing nature into levels or parts cannot be in principle but instead derives from our perception of the world as classical, a perception that is itself sustained by the process of decoherence.

Yes, More Decoherence: A Reply to Critics

“…As I have discussed elsewhere in more detail (Crull (2013) and ch. 4 of Crull (2011)), what is understood by classicality or the how one delimits the classical and quantum domains varies.…”

Neo-Aristotelian Perspectives on Contemporary Science

“…For an in-depth introduction to decoherence, see Bacciagaluppi (2016). For an accessible account of the philosophical implications of decoherence, see Crull (2013). See also Wallace (2012) for an extensive discussion of decoherence and the emergence of 'macro-objects'.…”

Half-Baked Humeanism

“…For an in-depth introduction to decoherence, seeBacciagaluppi (2016). For an accessible account of the philosophical implications of decoherence, seeCrull (2013). See also Wallace (2012) for an extensive discussion of decoherence and the emergence of 'macro-objects'.…”

“…See also Wallace (2012) for an extensive discussion of decoherence and the emergence of 'macro-objects'. AsCrull (2013): 879 notes sometimes 'classicality' is just understood as 'lack of interference'.…”