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LIVING IN CONFIGURATION SPACE

pinkel, daniel (2024) LIVING IN CONFIGURATION SPACE. [Preprint]

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Abstract

The survival of living beings depends on their ability to navigate a 3-dimensional world described by classical mechanics. However, quantum mechanics (QM), the best physical theory we currently have, employs the very high-dimensional configuration space and describes dramatically non-classical behavior. Thus, our perceptual and intellectual experiences of the world are fundamentally in tension. This paper presents a straightforward, fully QM analysis of the motions of complex Structures that preserve their integrity and functionality. It shows that large-scale motions are restricted to 3 dimensions, and that living beings must have a 3-D, classical, manifest image of their world. The interior motions of Structures remain fully quantum mechanical. Thus, intellectually recognizing that everything must be described by QM in configuration space is fully compatible with the perception of inhabiting a 3-dimensional, classical world.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
pinkel, danieldan.pinkel@ucsf.edu0000-0002-0171-1192
Keywords: perception; configuration space; 3-D manifest image; quantum mechanics; translational motion; projection
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Dr. Daniel Pinkel
Date Deposited: 31 Oct 2024 17:22
Last Modified: 31 Oct 2024 17:22
Item ID: 24136
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 31 October 2024
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24136

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