Reflective Metaphysics: Understanding Quantum Mechanics from a Kantian Standpoint

Abstract

Instead of either formulating new metaphysical images (as realists would do) or rejecting any metaphysical attempt (as empiricists would do), the case of quantum mechanics might well require from us a complete redefinition of the nature and task of metaphysics. The sought redefinition can be performed in the spirit of Kant, according to whom metaphysics is the discipline of the boundaries of human knowledge. This can be called a “reflective” conception of metaphysics. In this paper, each one of the most popular “interpretations” of quantum mechanics is shown to be naturally associated with a variety of Kant-like reflective metaphysics. Then, the two major “paradoxes” of quantum mechanics (the measurement problem and the EPR correlations) are reformulated by way of this reflective attitude, and they are thereby “dissolved”. Along with this perspective, quantum mechanics becomes one of the most elegant and understandable theories of the history of physics in addition of being one of the most efficient. The only point that must be clarified is why it looks culturally so difficult to accept a reflective and non-ontological standpoint on physical theories.