Philosophy of Science

Unificationist Approach and Standard Quantum Mechanics

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Seyyed Hedayat Sajadi 1
Mehdi Golshani 2
Amir Ehsan Karbasizadeh 3

1 Ph.D Student in Philosophy of Science and Technology, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies

2 Professor of Physics and Dean of Department of Philosophy of Science, Sharif University of Technology

3 Assistant Professor of Philosophy of Science, Iranian Institute of Philosophy

Abstract
This paper aims toward the formulation of unificationist approach in the development process of standard quantum mechanics (SQM) during the years 1913-1927, focusing on Bohr and Heisenberg as the two prominent founder scientists of ‘Copenhagen’ quantum mechanics. In this investigation, we formulate various types of unificationist approaches involving reductionist, analogist, and holistic forms of unificationism, within Bohr’s and Heisenberg’s main works. Thus, one part of this paper is devoted to description and articulation of several kinds of unificationism from philosophical point of view. Another part is devoted to the conceptual and philosophical analysis of main works of Bohr (including atomic model, correspondence principle, and complementarily) and Heisenberg (Matrix mechanics and indeterminacy relations). This analysis includes origins, methods, contents, and consequences of their works on physics, in the specific period of SQM development.

Keywords

unificationism
Bohr
Heisenberg
standard (copenhagen) quantum mechanics
Philosophy of Science
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
September 2012
Pages 47-68

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