In our mind's eye: Visible and invisible in quantum theory, with Schr\"odinger's cat experiment

TL;DR

This paper reexamines Schrödinger's cat paradox through the lens of 'reality without realism' interpretations of quantum mechanics, emphasizing the roles of visible and invisible aspects in understanding quantum phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a new interpretation framework combining Bohr's and Dirac's postulates, applying 'reality without realism' to analyze the cat paradox.

Findings

Reinterprets Schrödinger's cat experiment within RWR interpretations

Highlights the roles of visible and invisible in quantum thought

Extends Bohr's interpretation with Dirac's postulate

Abstract

This article aims to reconsider E. Schr\"odinger's famous thought experiment, the cat paradox experiment, and its place in quantum foundations from a new perspective, grounded in the type of interpretation of quantum phenomena and quantum mechanics, which belongs to the class of interpretations designated here as "reality without realism" (RWR) interpretations. Such interpretations have not been previously brought to bear on the cat experiment, including by N. Bohr, whose interpretation in its ultimate forms (as he changes his interpretation a few times) is an RWR interpretation, but who does not appear to have commented on the cat experiment. The interpretation adopted in this articles follows Bohr's interpretation, as based on two assumptions or postulates, the Heisenberg and Bohr postulates, but it adds a third postulate, the Dirac postulate. The article also introduces, in conjunction with the concept of reality without realism, the concepts of visible and invisible to thought and considers their role in the cat-paradox experiment.