How Alice, long before her time, derived the principles of quantum mechanics

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Authors: Marcello Poletti
Cited by: 0

Abstract

This philosophical dialogue explores the idea that the foundational principles of quantum mechanics need not be interpreted as describing a new physics, but may instead arise from the logical necessity of formalising the act of measurement within a coherent algebraic framework. By pushing this perspective to its extreme, the dialogue argues that the core structures of quantum mechanics can be derived independently of any specifically quantum properties of atomic particles, and can be formulated within an otherwise classical theory once limitations of observability and measurement context are taken seriously.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Quantum Mechanics and Applications Philosophy and History of Science Relativity and Gravitational Theory

Publication details

Journal / source
arXiv (Cornell University)
Publication date
3 January 2026
Document type
Preprint