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Einstein on Quantum Mechanics


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 "Cautiously one can say this: The attempt to understand the quantum theoretical description of the individual systems leads to unnatural theoretical interpretations, which immediately become unnecessary if one accepts the view that the description refers to the system as a whole and not to the individual system. The whole approach to avoid 'physical-real' becomes superfluous. However, there is a simple physiological reason why this obvious interpretation is avoided. If statistical quantum theory does not pretend to describe completely the individual system (and its temporal sequence), then it seems inevitable to look elsewhere for a complete description of the individual system. It would be clear from the start that the elements of such a description within the conceptual scheme of the statistical quantum theory would not be included. With this, one would admit that in principle this scheme can not serve as the basis of theoretical physics.”

A. Einstein, Out of my later years. Phil Lib. New York 1950 Seite 498

That was one expression of Einstein's long hostility to the development of quantum theory. I'm sure I don't follow it. But what I think he is saying is a bit like something Wittgenstein once said.

Wittgenstein said that much of his philosophizing was intended as a ladder that could and should be kicked away when one has gotten to the higher altitude that it makes accessible. 

Einstein is allowing, if I understand him correctly, that quantum theory might be a useful ladder, despite its "unnatural theoretical descriptions," but he is expressing eagerness for the kicking away thereof.  
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