The Undivided Universe: An Ontological Interpretation of Quantum Theory [Paperback]

David Bohm (Author), Basil J. Hiley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 1995 | ISBN-10: 041512185X | ISBN-13: 978-0415121859 | Edition: Reprint

In the The Undivided Universe, David Bohn and Basil Hiley present a radically different approach to quantum theory. They develop an interpretation of quantum mechanics which gives a clear, intuitive understanding of its meaning and in which there is a coherent notion of the reality of the universe without assuming a fundamental role for the human observer.
With the aid of new concepts such as active information together with non-locality, they provide a comprehensive account of all the basic features of quantum mechanics, including the relativistic domain and quantum field theory.
It is shown that, with the new approach, paradoxical or unsatisfactory features associated with the standard approaches, such as the wave-particle duality and the collapse of the wave function, do not arise. Finally, the authors make new suggestions and indicate some areas in which one may expect quantum theory to break down in a way that will allow for a test.
The Undivided Universe is an important book especially because it provides a different overall world view which is neither mechanistic nor reductionist. This view will ultimately have radical implications not only in physics but also in our general approach to all areas of life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is a brilliant book, of great depth and originality. Every physicist and physics student who wants to understand quantum mechanics should read this book.' - Physics Today

'A remarkable piece of work.' - Times Higher Education Supplement

'One of the most important works on quantum theory to appear during the last twenty years.' - Journal of Consciousness Studies

'This is a rich and stimulating book. It is indispensable reading for anyone with a serious interest in the interpretation of quantum theory.' - John Polkinghorne

'You will be very impressed by this wise and deep book that will certainly broaden your horizens and start you thinking about many things you thought you were sure of.' - Science

'This book disturbs the reader, because the profound originality of its thinking differs so much from mainstream physics and from what the new age has made of physics. It could be that it will in the course of time disturb also the course of physics.' - Network

'An important, forward-looking book.' - New Scientist

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; Reprint edition (March 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 041512185X
• ISBN-13: 978-0415121859
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #720,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hopefully others will continue in his vein., June 20, 2004

By 

Frank Bierbrauer (Cardiff, Wales, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Undivided Universe: An Ontological Interpretation of Quantum Theory (Paperback)

In this book, David Bohm's (probably) last major work before his death, Bohm and Hiley outline in some detail Bohm's original work on the "quantum potential" which he developed from de Broglie's earlier attempts some years ago. This book brings together Bohm and Hiley's work dealing with the quantum potential approach for varied quantum phenomena such as photon absorption, photon emission, the measurement problem in quantum physics and so on. Throughout it is wise to remind oneself of Bohm's comment on this approach when he stated that it is only one possible exploration of an idea and not meant as a final theory by any means. Bohm points out repeatedly that in order to develop the quantum theory further it needs new concepts/philosophy to delve into deeper aspects of reality. If these thoughts are not kept in mind then one gets the distinct feeling that there is something incomplete in the work as it stands. Bohm's attempts at another approach are made through his ideas of the holomovement or implicate order which, although nebulous, is explored in its principals at least as in much of Bohm's other works.

I don't believe, like other reviewers have stated, that these ideas are vacuuous. New ideas are absoltely necessary in contemporary physics where the pure mathematical developments of string theory feel empty of real depth. Although speculative, at least Bohm's ideas sound physical and have a physical underpinning as those of Schroedinger, Heisenberg and Bohr in the early 20th century. The difference is that these other great physicists had some experimental work to guide them, Bohm does not, or very little. His ideas rely on the ability of experiments to probe deeper levels of reality between what is possible now say 10^-15 m and 10^-35 m, the Planck length. There exists a huge range of orders of magnitude to explore. I believe in fact the last couple of chapters of the book are the really interesting bits which contain such deeper explorations.

It is unfortunate Bohm died early and it is hopefull that Hiley et al will continue his great work with the same radical enthusiasm and not be unconsciously hamstrung by the current mechanistic paradigm.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An alternative to the Copenhagen Interpretation, September 2, 2000

By 

matthew e kenyon (Washington D. C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Undivided Universe: An Ontological Interpretation of Quantum Theory (Paperback)

The authors present a different interpretation of quantum mechanics to the orthodox Copenhagen intepretation. For the serious student of quantum mechanics interested in looking at the field from a fresh perspective, Bohm and Hiley's interpretation is very interesting. Bohm is one of the great physicists of the 20th century who understood quantum mechanics as well as anyone. His 1951 textbook on the subject is a classic. Interestingly, he presented the Copenhagen intepretation in this textbook, but a few years later published articles on his ontological or hidden variable interpretation which is the presented in "The Undivided Universe." A cautionary note is this book is not for the lay person.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intellectually stimulating, opens up a can of worms of QM problems, July 17, 2006

By 

JC (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Undivided Universe: An Ontological Interpretation of Quantum Theory (Paperback)

Bohm is one of the few genius' who didn't get much recongnition in his lifetime. Had it not been MacCarthy's persecution he would have been a distinguished professor at Princeton and made more impact in Modern Physics.

His genius shows in his radically different interpretation of QM. When you read the first few chapters of his book, it gives you this "eureka" feeling and chill thru your spine. While they say currently there is no way to prove or disprove his theory as it gives the same result as Copenhagen, but I truely believe a correct theory will give insights into other fields and advance further the whole science/ civilization. Only time will tell.

You will need college level quantum mechanics knowledge to go thru the first 8 chapters, which is really the essence of the book. To read beyond that, you will probably need graduate level.