The origins of the research on the foundations of quantum mechanics (and other critical activities) in italy during the 1970s

TL;DR

This paper reconstructs the development of foundational quantum mechanics research in Italy during the 1970s, highlighting the influence of social and political upheavals on scientific inquiry and attitudes.

Contribution

It uncovers the historical origins and social motivations behind Italy's pioneering efforts in quantum foundations during the 1970s, preceding the American revival.

Findings

Italian physicists challenged traditional views of quantum mechanics.

The 1968 protests influenced scientific approaches and research directions.

The 1970s saw a surge in foundational research shaping science education.

Abstract

We present a reconstruction of the studies on the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (FQM) carried out in Italy at the turn of the 1960s. Actually, they preceded the revival of the interest of the American physicists towards the FQM around mid-1970s, recently reconstructed by David Kaiser in a book of 2011. An element common to both cases is the role played by the young generation, even though the respective motivations were quite different. In the US they reacted to research cuts after the war in Vietnam, and were inspired by the New Age mood. In Italy the dissatisfaction of the young generations was rooted in the student protests of 1968 and the subsequent labour and social fights, which challenged the role of scientists. The young generations of physicists searched for new scientific approaches and challenged their own scientific knowledge and role. The criticism to the FQM and the perspectives of submitting them to experimental tests were perceived as an innovative research field and this attitude was directly linked to the search for an innovative and radical approach in the history of science. All these initiatives gave rise to booming activity throughout the 1970s, contributing to influence the scientific attitude and the teaching approach.