Uncertainty in virtual collaborative contexts

Abstract

The analogy between uncertainty in quantum physics and uncertainty in social relationships is investigated. It turns out that the attitudes of the observed perceived by the observers in social relationships can be understood as the result of two sets of conjugate parameters (strengths of beliefs and their valuations). When the assessments of these parameters are considered to take place in different universes (virtual environment and real-life environment) they are argued to be subject to uncertainties that are compared to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, and the rules of quantum logic apply. Any individual interacting with a virtual collaborative context and having to decide on courses of action in a real-life environment is constrained by the lack of precision of the attitudes to take and by inductive reasoning.