Shadows of language in physics and cybernetics
(1996) In Systems Research 13(3). p.329-340- Abstract
- In a large variety of disciplines, fundamental studies often straddle in self-referential situations, in need of relativization to language and complementaristic resolution. In such attempts, the languages at play are hardly visible themselves. Only shadows of language, somewhat characteristic of the various disciplines, become visible and tractable. We select two domains, quantum mechanics and cybernetics, for a comparative study of their complementarity concepts with consequence for understandings of observability, describability, and objectivity. In particular, we compare Bohr-Pauli’s "nondetachability of the observer" and von Foerster’s aphorisms for objectivity.
In quantum mechanics, with its emphasis on... (More) - In a large variety of disciplines, fundamental studies often straddle in self-referential situations, in need of relativization to language and complementaristic resolution. In such attempts, the languages at play are hardly visible themselves. Only shadows of language, somewhat characteristic of the various disciplines, become visible and tractable. We select two domains, quantum mechanics and cybernetics, for a comparative study of their complementarity concepts with consequence for understandings of observability, describability, and objectivity. In particular, we compare Bohr-Pauli’s "nondetachability of the observer" and von Foerster’s aphorisms for objectivity.
In quantum mechanics, with its emphasis on experimentability and measurability, Bohr's primary view of complementarity takes the form of a tension between definability and measurability. In cybernetics, we have a central interest in inferribility above the more constructive measurability, and the linguistic complementarity takes the form of a tension between describability and interpretability.
In quests for a complete quantum mechanical measurement language, we face an interesting situation, that of simulating semantic measurability by syntactic inferribility. It calls for a cybernetic tie, whereby the two processes of assertibility, by measurability and by provability, become united under complementarity. Although semantic and syntactic processes are complementary within the measurement language, they may be unfolded in levels of constructivity, allowing identification of the lowest levels. Namely, identification of the constructivity level of a basic measurement sentence, i.e., a sentence which can be affirmed by a direct measurement (without involving further inferences), with the lowest constructivity level of syntactic provability.
We exemplify with an explanation of a recent challenge against Bohr’s wave-particle compementarity. Namely, by the so called double-prism experiment of Ghose, Home, and Agarwal. We find the experiment quite interesting, not by the alleged challenge, but by realizing that its interpretation requires a levelled approach to quantum theory. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/120378
- author
- Löfgren, Lars LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 1996
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- ties, interpretability, cuts, double-prism experiment in quantum mechanics, inferribility, constructivity, measurability, von Foerster’s objectivity aphorisms, non-detachability of observer, complementarity, describability, language
- in
- Systems Research
- volume
- 13
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 329 - 340
- publisher
- Pergamon Press Ltd.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:8444226839
- ISSN
- 0731-7239
- DOI
- 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1735(199609)13:3<329::AID-SRES98>3.0.CO;2-2
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 04a25642-ffc8-4088-a643-07cae5afb7ac (old id 120378)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 17:07:19
- date last changed
- 2022-01-29 00:28:28
@article{04a25642-ffc8-4088-a643-07cae5afb7ac,
abstract = {{In a large variety of disciplines, fundamental studies often straddle in self-referential situations, in need of relativization to language and complementaristic resolution. In such attempts, the languages at play are hardly visible themselves. Only shadows of language, somewhat characteristic of the various disciplines, become visible and tractable. We select two domains, quantum mechanics and cybernetics, for a comparative study of their complementarity concepts with consequence for understandings of observability, describability, and objectivity. In particular, we compare Bohr-Pauli’s "nondetachability of the observer" and von Foerster’s aphorisms for objectivity. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
In quantum mechanics, with its emphasis on experimentability and measurability, Bohr's primary view of complementarity takes the form of a tension between definability and measurability. In cybernetics, we have a central interest in inferribility above the more constructive measurability, and the linguistic complementarity takes the form of a tension between describability and interpretability.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
In quests for a complete quantum mechanical measurement language, we face an interesting situation, that of simulating semantic measurability by syntactic inferribility. It calls for a cybernetic tie, whereby the two processes of assertibility, by measurability and by provability, become united under complementarity. Although semantic and syntactic processes are complementary within the measurement language, they may be unfolded in levels of constructivity, allowing identification of the lowest levels. Namely, identification of the constructivity level of a basic measurement sentence, i.e., a sentence which can be affirmed by a direct measurement (without involving further inferences), with the lowest constructivity level of syntactic provability.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
We exemplify with an explanation of a recent challenge against Bohr’s wave-particle compementarity. Namely, by the so called double-prism experiment of Ghose, Home, and Agarwal. We find the experiment quite interesting, not by the alleged challenge, but by realizing that its interpretation requires a levelled approach to quantum theory.}},
author = {{Löfgren, Lars}},
issn = {{0731-7239}},
keywords = {{ties; interpretability; cuts; double-prism experiment in quantum mechanics; inferribility; constructivity; measurability; von Foerster’s objectivity aphorisms; non-detachability of observer; complementarity; describability; language}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{329--340}},
publisher = {{Pergamon Press Ltd.}},
series = {{Systems Research}},
title = {{Shadows of language in physics and cybernetics}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4880971/1737464.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1002/(SICI)1099-1735(199609)13:3<329::AID-SRES98>3.0.CO;2-2}},
volume = {{13}},
year = {{1996}},
}