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Aristotle and the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

Driessen, Alfred (2020) Aristotle and the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics.

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Abstract

The four antinomies of Zeno of Elea continue to be provoking issues that remain relevant for the foundation of science. Aristotle used this antinomy to arrive at a deeper understanding of movement: it is a fluent continuum that he considers to be a whole. The parts, if any, are only potentially present. Similarly, quantum mechanics states that movement is quantized; things move or change in nonreducible steps, the so-called quanta. This view is in contrast to classical mechanics, where infinitesimally small steps are permitted. The objective of the present study is to show the merits of the Aristotelian approach. Examples from modern science serve to illustrate the philosophical statements.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Driessen, AlfredDriessen.Alfred@gmail.com0000-0002-7901-4020
Keywords: Aristotle, Quantum Mechanics, metaphysics, continuum, movement
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Dr. Alfred Driessen
Date Deposited: 16 Dec 2023 18:58
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2023 18:58
Item ID: 22825
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.19272/202000702008
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.19272/202000702008
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 3 July 2020
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22825

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