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La causalité revisitée à la lumière de la mécanique quantique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 May 2013

Louis Vervoort
Louis Vervoort*
Affiliation:
Université de Montréallouisvervoort@hotmail.com
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Abstract

The principle of causality (or, determinism) and the notion of cause are studied in light of recent results in the field of quantum mechanics. A definition of the concept of cause is proposed. Then the question “does every event have a cause?” is investigated. According to the orthodox interpretation of quantum mechanics, the answer is ‘no’ but I show that several scientifically valid counter-arguments against this point of view exist and that the question of determinism remains a philosophical issue and not a scientific one, as many scientists believe. Since the theme of this article is interdisciplinary, I use language that is comprehensible by generalists of both communities, philosophy and physics.

Le principe de causalité (ou de déterminisme) et la notion de cause sont étudiés ici à la lumière de la mécanique quantique. Une définition du concept de cause est d’abord proposée. La question : «tout événement a-t-il une cause?» est ensuite abordée. Selon l’interprétation orthodoxe de la mécanique quantique, la réponse à cette question est négative. Mais il est soutenu ici que bien des arguments scientifiquement valables s’opposent à ce point de vue, et que la question du déterminisme reste donc d’ordre philosophique en non pas scientifique, comme le prétendent certains physiciens. Puisque le thème abordé est interdisciplinaire, nous avons voulu utiliser un langage compréhensible pour des généralistes des deux communautés, philosophes et physiciens.

Type
Articles
Information
Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review / Revue canadienne de philosophie , Volume 51 , Issue 4 , December 2012 , pp. 539 - 561
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Philosophical Association 2012 

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References

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