--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the strangely elusive and…" description: "\"“the strangely elusive and counterintuitive character of the quantum world has encouraged some to suggest that the idea of entities like electrons whic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/john-polkinghorne-14266_periodic-table_the-strangely-elusive-and-counterintuiti_1245268.jpg" --- # the strangely elusive and counterintuitive character of… ![“the strangely elusive and counterintuitive character of the quantum world has encouraged some to suggest that the idea of entities like electrons which can be in unpicturable states such as superpositions of being ‘here’ and being ‘there’ is no more than a convenient manner of speaking which…” quote by John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/john-polkinghorne-14266_periodic-table_the-strangely-elusive-and-counterintuiti_1245268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/john-polkinghorne-14266_periodic-table_the-strangely-elusive-and-counterintuiti_1245268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/john-polkinghorne-14266_periodic-table_the-strangely-elusive-and-counterintuiti_1245268.jpg) > ““the strangely elusive and counterintuitive character of the quantum world has encouraged some to suggest that the idea of entities like electrons which can be in unpicturable states such as superpositions of being ‘here’ and being ‘there’ is no more than a convenient manner of speaking which facilitates calculations, and that electrons themselves are not to be taken with ontological seriousness. The counterattack of the scientific realist appeals to intelligibility as the key to reality. It is precisely because the assumption of the existence of electrons allows us to understand a vast range of directly accessible phenomena—such as the periodic table in chemistry, the phenomenon of superconductivity at low temperatures and the behaviour of devices such as the laser—that we take their existence seriously.”” [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quantum entities like electrons are useful theoretical constructs that explain phenomena; their ontological status is debated, but practical success justifies treating them as real. **In simple terms:** Electrons are useful models, even if their true nature is unclear. Key Takeaway Use models that work, while questioning their reality. Themes science philosophy ontology pragmatism Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - research - education - technology development - philosophical debate Key Concepts quantum mechanics realism instrumentalism Questions to Reflect On - When should we treat scientific models as literal? - What are the limits of instrumentalism? A Different Perspective Models may mislead if taken as literal truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Periodic table](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periodic-table/) ## Related quotes > [The only way to look at men is like they're electrons. They have all these charges sticking out, and they're always looking for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-only-way-to-look-at-men-is-like-they-re-electrons-they-have-all/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [It's not even known how many kinds of cells there are in the brain. 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It assumes that the molecule is held together by links between one atom and the next: that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevil-vincent-sidgwick/the-structural-theory-is-of-extreme-simplicity-it-assumes-that-the/) Nevil Vincent Sidgwick > [“From 'Periodic Table of Elements': A girl ago, a girlhood gone like a phial of ether \| Thrown on fire--just \| A little jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucie-brock-broido/from-periodic-table-of-elements-a-girl-ago-a-girlhood-gone-like-a/) [Lucie Brock-Broido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucie-brock-broido/) > [“For his part, Mendeleev scanned Lecoq de Boisbaudran’s data on gallium and told the experimentalist, with no justification, that he must have measured something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kean/for-his-part-mendeleev-scanned-lecoq-de-boisbaudran-s-data-on-gallium/) [Sam Kean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kean/) > [“The actual structure of the life we know is deeply and pervasively anchored in the particularities of the periodic table. 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