Michel Bitbol

Michel Bitbol is a French researcher in philosophy of science, born in 1954.

He is "Directeur de recherche" at CNRS, in the Centre de Recherche en Epistémologie Appliquée (CREA) of École polytechnique (Paris, France).

His research interests are mainly focused on the influence of quantum physics on philosophy. He first worked on Erwin Schrödinger's metaphysics and philosophy of physics.^[1]

Using theorems demonstrated by Jean-Louis Destouches, Paulette Destouches-Février, and R.I.G. Hughes, he pointed out that the structure of quantum mechanics may be derived to a large extent from the assumption that microscopic phenomena cannot be dissociated from their experimental context.^[2] His views on quantum mechanics converge with ideas developed by Julian Schwinger^[3] and Asher Peres,^[4] according to whom quantum mechanics is a "symbolism of atomic measurements", rather than a description of atomic objects. He also defends ideas close to Anton Zeilinger's, by claiming that quantum laws do not express the nature of physical objects, but only the bounds of experimental information.

Along with this view, quantum mechanics is no longer considered as a physical theory in the ordinary sense, but rather as a background framework for physical theories, since it goes back to the most elementary conditions which allow us to formulate any physical theory whatsoever. Some reviewers suggested half-seriously to call this view of physics "Kantum physics". Indeed, Michel Bitbol often refers to the philosophy of I. Kant, according to whom one can understand the contents of knowledge only by analyzing the (sensorial, instrumental, and rational) conditions of possibility of such knowledge.^[5]

He was granted an award by the French "Académie des sciences morales et politiques" in 1997, for his work in the philosophy of quantum mechanics.

Later on, he concentrated on the philosophy of mind and consciousness,^[6] defending a strongly anti-reductionist^[7] and neo-wittgensteinian view.^[8] He collaborated with Francisco Varela on this subject.

He participated in the 2002 conference of the Mind and Life Institute, whose aim is to promote a dialogue between science and buddhism.^[9]

Bibliography

• Mécanique quantique, une introduction philosophique, Champs-Flammarion, 1997
• L'aveuglante proximité du réel, Champs-Flammarion, 1998.
• Physique et Philosophie de l'Esprit, Champs-Flammarion, 2005.
• Schrödinger's Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, Kluwer, 1996.

Translations

• French translation of Schrödinger's Mind and Matter (with an extensive introduction), Seuil, 1990.
• French translation (with Annie Bitbol-Hespériès) of Schrödinger's: Nature and the Greeks (with an extensive introduction), Seuil, 1992.

References

1. ^ E. Schrödinger, The interpretation of quantum mechanics (Dublin seminars 1949-1955), edited and with an introduction by M. Bitbol, Ox Bow Press, 1995
2. ^ M. Bitbol, "La mécanique quantique comme théorie des probabilités généralisée", in: E. Klein & Y. Sacquin (eds.), Prévision et probabilités dans les sciences, Editions Frontières, 1998
3. ^ J. Schwinger, Quantum Mechanics. Symbolism of Atomic Measurements, Springer, 2003
4. ^ A. Peres, Quantum Theory: Concepts and Methods, Kluwer, 1995
5. ^ M. Bitbol, “Some steps towards a transcendental deduction of quantum mechanics”, Philosophia naturalis, 35, 253-280, 1998
6. ^ M. Bitbol, “Is Consciousness Primary ?”, NeuroQuantology, 6, 53-71, 2008
7. ^ M. Bitbol, “Ontology, matter and emergence”, Phenomenology and the Cognitive Science, 6, 293-307, 2007
8. ^ M. Bitbol, “Science as if situation mattered”, Phenomenology and the Cognitive Science, 1, 181-224, 2002
9. ^ P.L. Luisi (ed.), Mind & Life, Discussions with the Dalai-Lama on the Nature of Reality, Columbia University Press, 2008

External links

• Michel Bitbol's homepage

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