Abstract
The history of physics shows us that even when we have the correct physical theories at hand, it takes time to realize their most profound implications. Frequently, this is because theories that imply a new paradigm in physics are initially formulated in terms of quantities and assumptions that predate the paradigm. This obscures the true meaning of the theory in question. An example is Maxwell's electromagnetism: it is a Lorentz-invariant theory but such feature was not noticed by Maxwell, since he cast it in terms of non-invariant concepts. We argue that we face a similar situation in quantum mechanics. The theory is ordinarily formulated in terms of a classical background space and time that one assumes can be measured with infinite precision. When one takes into account that space and time have to be described as quantum entities, with fundamental limitations in their measurement, apparent conceptual problems in the quantum theory, as the measurement problem, disappear. One ends up with a quantum mechanics that is complete and does not require an external classical reality for its existence. A complete quantum theory in turn leads us to revise long held assumptions about the nature of physical laws. It naturally takes us to the position emphasized by regularist philosophers for years: physical laws derive their truth from actual relations within the world, they express only what does occur. They refer to the effects that some systems may have on others and not to what must occur in absolute, non-relational ways. Due to the probabilistic nature of the theory another assumption to be revised concerns the ``closure'' of physics: the laws of physics do not dictate everything that happens in the natural world. In turn this may have implications in many other philosophical issues, like for instance, the mind/body problem.
Jorge Pullin