From Quantum Axiomatics to Quantum Conceptuality

TL;DR

This paper proposes that physical reality is fundamentally conceptual and cognitive, supported by similarities between quantum micro-physical behavior and human concepts, offering a new interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It introduces the 'conceptualistic interpretation' of quantum mechanics, emphasizing cognition's role and challenging traditional views on the measurement problem.

Findings

Quantum probabilities are likely epistemic.

Quantum entities exhibit non-spatial behavior similar to human concepts.

The measurement problem is considered essentially solved in this framework.

Abstract

Since its inception, many physicists have seen in quantum mechanics the possibility, if not the necessity, of bringing cognitive aspects into the play, which were instead absent, or unnoticed, in the previous classical theories. In this article, we outline the path that led us to support the hypothesis that our physical reality is fundamentally conceptual-like and cognitivistic-like. However, contrary to the 'abstract ego hypothesis' introduced by John von Neumann and further explored, in more recent times, by Henry Stapp, our approach does not rely on the measurement problem as expressing a possible 'gap in physical causation', which would point to a reality lying beyond the mind-matter distinction. On the contrary, in our approach the measurement problem is considered to be essentially solved, at least for what concerns the origin of quantum probabilities, which we have reasons to believe they would be epistemic. Our conclusion that conceptuality and cognition would be an integral part of all physical processes comes instead from the observation of the striking similarities between the non-spatial behavior of the quantum micro-physical entities and that of the human concepts. This gave birth to a new interpretation of quantum mechanics, called the 'conceptualistic interpretation', currently under investigation within our group in Brussels.