Quantum Physics and Ultimate Reality: Great Debates and New Developments

The great debate between Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein has been called the “battle for the soul of physics”. The most important issue they cared about is the nature of quantum reality. Bohr considered quantum theory only as a computational tool, and insisted that the task of physics is not to find out how nature is. Einstein was strongly opposed to this anti-realist view, and thought that there had to be some as-yet-unknown underlying reality. But, somewhat ironically, he agreed with Bohr that quantum theory does not directly describe reality, but only describe our knowledge about some aspect of reality. The debate has not been settled until recently. New research shows that both Einstein and Bohr were wrong about the nature of quantum reality. This book will introduce this new, exciting development in our understanding of quantum theory and its deep implications. In addition, this book will also bring the original debates between Bohr and Einstein to general readers, including a brief history of quantum theory as told by Bohr in his account of the debates.