"I would like to describe an attitude toward quantum mechanics which, whether or not it clarifies the interpretational problems that continue to plague the subject, at least sets them in a rather different perspective. This point of view alters somewhat the language used to address these issues—a glossary is provided in Appendix C—and it may offer a less perplexing basis for teaching quantum mechanics or explaining it to nonspecialists. It is based on one fundamental in sight, perhaps best introduced by an analogy. My complete answer to the late 19th century question "what is electrodynamics trying to tell us" would simply be this:Fields in empty space have physical reality; the medium that supports them does not.Having thus removed the mystery from electrodynamics, let me immediately do the same for quantum mechanics:Correlations have physical reality; that which they correlate does not."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
N. David Mermin, "What is quantum mechanics trying to tell us?", Am. J. Phys. 66, 753 (1998)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Quantum mechanics
70 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Quantum mechanics →
Related Quotes
"We cannot make apparatuses arbitrarily big. ... We might need some extension of quantum mechanics."
"Christian Imbert, to support my project and to act as my thesis advisor. He had advised me to go first to Geneva, to …"
"Quantum mechanics was, and continues to be, revolutionary, primarily because it demands the introduction of radically…"
"No other theory of the physical world has caused such consternation as quantum theory, for no other theory has so com…"
"… that what is proved, by impossibility proofs, is lack of imagination."
"I am a Quantum Engineer, but on Sundays I Have Principles."
"Quantum mechanics had never been wrong. And now we know that it will not be wrong even in these very tricky conditions."
"I'm quite convinced of that: quantum theory is only a temporary expedient."
"This particular question of locality is still open, in my opinion. I think we have not found a way of digesting this …"
"So, what is quantum mechanics? Even though it was discovered by physicists, it’s not a physical theory in the same se…"