Aihuxv.117
net.misc
utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhtsa!ihnss!ihuxv!lew
Sun May  9 23:32:31 1982
quantum quotes
The Heisenberg-Bohr tranquilizing philosophy - or religion? - is so
delicately contrived that, for the time being, it provides a gentle pillow
for the true believer from which he cannot very easily be aroused. So
let him lie there. --- Einstein in a letter to Schroedinger, 1928

It seems to me that the concept of probability is terribly mishandled
these days. Probability surely has as its substance a statement as to
whether something IS or IS NOT the case - an uncertain statement to be
sure. But nevertheless it has meaning only if one is indeed convinced
that the something in question quite definitely either IS or IS NOT
the case. --- Schroedinger in a letter to Einstein, 1950

This disquiet has been focused largely on what is called *the measurement
problem* though this expression conceals muddled thought. To speak as
though there were this one remaining problem to solve before quantum
theory could be properly consistent is a bit like saying that the project
of finding an overland route to Australia was waiting only for the solution
of a last remaining problem - the *closure problem* they might call it -
constituted by the closed perimeter of that continent.
--- Ted Bastin in *The Encyclopedia of Ignorance*, 1977

I think it is safe to say that no one understands quantum mechanics.
Do not keep saying to yourself, if you can possibly avoid it,
*But, how can it be like that?* You will go down down the drain into a
blind alley from which nobody has yet escaped. --- Richard Feynman, quoted
in a *Discover* magazine book review, May 1982

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen <jgoerzen@complete.org>
 of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/


This Usenet Oldnews Archive
article may be copied and distributed freely, provided:

1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles.

2. The following notice remains appended to each copy:

The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 
 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.