Sunday, July 15, 2012

Einstein/Bohr debate over quantum theory:


Who won and why?

Why would Einstein assume that the God that Bohr believed in was a “God who played dice?” Einstein, on the other hand seemed to have wanted to be like a god form, proving that all had to have a reasoning that he understood and wanted desperately to find that seemingly tangible reason of existence.  As Einstein was battling with the fact of probability and spent a good portion of his life attempting to prove that probability should not have a foot in the function of physical state, but yet have an absolute value to the end of the equation. He had trouble grasping and accepting that individual events could not be predicted and only a probability could be derived. In a letter to Bohr, Einstein did admit his attitude in physics was unreasonable and also admitted that there was validity in Bohr’s statistical approach, but yet his inability to accept probability and desire to obtain the magical equation that would give him the absolute value.

Bohr in his admiration and understanding of Einstein and the thought process understood of Einstein’s unwillingness to accept probability as a solution to quantum theory. I do not know who is right at the end Bohr or Einstein. I believe that Einstein reasoned a compromise in his reasoning for himself as he knew his death was coming. Determining that Bohr’s Philosophy of quantum theory is more of a transitional phase than the answer because Einstein could not accept that quantum theory is not an absolute answer but a spectrum of probable answers. Einstein’s hope was that someone would complete and find the solution to his absolute answer.

On the other hand Einstein had a point not wanting to accept Bohr’s theory, because it was based on probability being a possible answer. I just learned that with probability we could adjust the table and circumstances point in the direction we want them to be. In other words, we can work the equation to say what we want it to say.  This is why Einstein was not too supportive of it, even though he was partially part of leading to that conclusion.
Who won this debate? We don't know, Bohr did get Einstein to consider that quantum theory could be a stepping stone to what Einstein would consider a logical and clear conclusion.

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