Quantum Entanglement: A Challenge to Physicalism

Authors

1 Master's degree, Philosophy of Religion, Farabi Campus, University of Tehran

2 Associate Professor, Islamic Philosophy, Farabi Campus, University of Tehran

10.22080/jre.2025.28087.1226

Abstract

What is quantum entanglement and what implications does it have for our understanding of physicalism, particularly in the context of the nature of reality and the relationship of particles to each other? How does the phenomenon of quantum entanglement challenge traditional notions of causality and locality in physical theories? Can quantum entanglement be reconciled with a materialist view of the world, or does this require a paradigm shift in our understanding of consciousness and reality? Physicalism, the philosophical position that the physical world is the only reality, has long been the dominant view in philosophy. However, recent discoveries in quantum mechanics, particularly the phenomenon of entanglement, challenge the physicalist interpretation of existence. This article uses a descriptive-analytical approach to answer the above questions and concludes that quantum entanglement provides implications such as quantum nonlocality, quantum teleportation, holism, correlation, and quantum consciousness that provide a serious critique and challenge to physicalism. Quantum entanglement, characterized by nonlocal correlations between particles, challenges fundamental assumptions of physicalism, particularly its reliance on the principles of locality and determinism, and physical certainty and predictability. We also argue, by examining the role of the observer in quantum measurement, that the act of observation not only affects the state of entangled systems but also raises profound questions about the nature of reality and consciousness. In this paper, physicalism is critiqued through the lens of quantum entanglement, a phenomenon that fundamentally challenges our classical intuitions about reality.

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References

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