Random Discontinuous Motion

Reviews of Dialectica

(2008/4/12)

This is a very original paper that tackles fundamental issues, shows surprising possible links and makes stunning claims in a well-structured and modest way.

Reviews of American Philosophical Quarterly

(2007/7/26)

Random and discontinuous motion of particles during suffciently small intervals can yield the appearance of classical deterministic motion at macroscopic scales. If it goes through, this would be an original and signi cant contribution to the debate over the nature of motion.

Comments of Bernard d'Espagnat

(2006/8/11)

I consider that its very existence is at any rate, an excellent  illustration of the extent to which physical data force us to depart from commonsense ideas when we try to depict reality "as it really is". 

[*] Bernard d'Espagnat is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Paris-Orsay, where he was director of the Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Particules Élémentaires (Laboratory of Theoretical Physics and Elementary Particles) from 1970 to 1987. His books in English include the classic Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Veiled Reality and the recent On Physics and Philosophy.

Cited by Mario Zatti in Metanexus Cosmos

(2004/10/11)

Psychism, Free Will, and Chance: Interrelationships and Problems

Others propound the view that the interactions (forces) between particles are transferred by other particles: if motions can exist only as a result of the actions of external forces on the particles, one of these would not be able to move without the action (cause) of a force, but, on the other hand, the force cannot exist if there are no moving particles to transfer it: either everything is immobile or there exist uncaused, spontaneous motions (Gao Shan, 2001).

The author cited explains in a previous work (Gao Shan, 2001) that the logical basis of indeterminism is provided by the demonstration that the motion of elementary particles is discontinuous, random and spontaneous.

[*] Mario Zatti is a professor of Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Verona, Italy, formerly Director of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Verona University School of Medicine, and Chairman of the Bioethics Committee of the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry. His current interests include philosophy of science, and religion and science dialogue.

Reviews of Foundations of Physics

(2004/3/15)

1. The idea of using discontinuous motion as a realist interpretation of quantum mechanics is original. If it can be made to work, it would add an interesting new ontology to our stock of quantum mechanical interpretations.

2. There may be enough freedom in defining the discontinuous world sets to be able to construct quantities in configuration space… This may offer an interesting solution to the puzzle of how wave-functions in configuration space may arise from an underlying reality in normal physical space. There is of course the problem of mathematical consistency and adequate existence proofs.

3. The discussion in the section entitled 'The discontinuous motion of particles in discrete space-time' offers an interesting vision of Plank scale phenomena.

4. The philosophical position in the section entitled 'The basis of discontinuous motion', that lack of reason is a guiding principle for physical behavior, though not new, is one that merits greater exploration and is an interesting argument in favor of the author's ideas.  

Comments of Leo Moseley and Naeem Jan (Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Canada) 2000/9/28

Recently Gao Shan, in a series of papers describes an approach that leads, we believe, to a more consistent logical interpretation of QM. We feel that Gao Shan has added a significant element to the Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics which is closer to our classical logic. 

Comments of Philip P. Benjamin

(1999/12/26)

A sense of relief at last! Gao has done it, with no metaphysics and magic. He seems to have no life-style to justify and no axe to grind against any belief system. Then pure physics and objectivity prevails.

Comments of Antoine Suarez (Center for Quantum Philosophy, Institute of Indisciplinary Studies, Zurich, Switzerland) 1999/3/17

I fully agree with your idea of discontinuous movement.

Comments of Philip Pearle (Hamilton College, USA) 1999/2/6

Your (QDM) equations seem to be very similar to the Bohm deBroglie Pilot Wave theory (nowadays called Bohmian mechanics by some). Indeed, I could not easily see how your ideas differ from those of Bohm.