Discussing Quote by Roger Penrose
“It seems to me that we must make a distinction between what is "objective" and what is "measurable" in discussing the question of physical reality, according to quantum mechanics. The state-vector of a system is, indeed, not measurable , in the sense that one cannot ascertain, by experiments performed on the system, precisely (up to proportionality) what the state is; but the state-vector does seem to be (again up to proportionality) a completely objective property of the system, being completely characterized by the results it must give to experiments that one might perform.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Nature of Physical Reality, 1994
Quantum mechanics separates what can be objectively described from what can be directly measured; the state vector is an objective property despite being unmeasurable.
In simple terms: Objective reality differs from measurable outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of measurement while trusting theoretical descriptions.
Themes
physics
philosophy
quantum mechanics
ontology
Mood
curious
thoughtful
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- philosophical debate
- interpretation of experiments
Key Concepts
state vector
objectivity
measurement problem
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we trust unobservable entities?
- What role does measurement play in defining reality?
A Different Perspective
Measurement limits may hinder practical verification of theoretical claims.
