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44Modeling Human Decision-Making: An Overview of the Brussels Quantum ApproachFoundations of Science 26 (1): 27-54. 2018.We present the fundamentals of the quantum theoretical approach we have developed in the last decade to model cognitive phenomena that resisted modeling by means of classical logical and probabilistic structures, like Boolean, Kolmogorovian and, more generally, set theoretical structures. We firstly sketch the operational-realistic foundations of conceptual entities, i.e. concepts, conceptual combinations, propositions, decision-making entities, etc. Then, we briefly illustrate the application o…Read more
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43The entity and modern physicsIn Elena Castellani (ed.), Interpreting Bodies, Princeton University Press. pp. 223--257. 1998.
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42Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture: A Non-Adaptationist, Systems Theoretical Approach (edited book)Springer. 2006.For the first time in history, scholars working on language and culture from within an evolutionary epistemological framework, and thereby emphasizing complementary or deviating theories of the Modern Synthesis, were brought together. Of course there have been excellent conferences on Evolutionary Epistemology in the past, as well as numerous conferences on the topics of Language and Culture. However, until now these disciplines had not been brought together into one all-encompassing conference.…Read more
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38On the Conceptuality Interpretation of Quantum and Relativity TheoriesFoundations of Science 25 (1): 5-54. 2020.How can we explain the strange behavior of quantum and relativistic entities? Why do they behave in ways that defy our intuition about how physical entities should behave, considering our ordinary experience of the world around us? In this article, we address these questions by showing that the comportment of quantum and relativistic entities is not that strange after all, if we only consider what their nature might possibly be: not an objectual one, but a conceptual one. This not in the sense t…Read more
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35Quantum structure and human thoughtBehavioral and Brain Sciences 36 (3): 274-276. 2013.We support the authors' claims, except that we point out that also quantum structure different from quantum probability abundantly plays a role in human cognition. We put forward several elements to illustrate our point, mentioning entanglement, contextuality, interference, and emergence as effects, and states, observables, complex numbers, and Fock space as specific mathematical structures
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35Quantum structures, separated physical entities and probabilityFoundations of Physics 24 (9): 1227-1259. 1994.We prove that if the physical entity S consisting of two separated physical entities S1 and S2 satisfies the axioms of orthodox quantum mechanics, then at least one of the two subentities is a classical physical entity. This theorem implies that separated quantum entities cannot be described by quantum mechanics. We formulate this theorem in an approach where physical entities are described by the set of their states, and the set of their relevant experiments. We also show that the collection of…Read more
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34Spin and Wind Directions I: Identifying Entanglement in Nature and CognitionFoundations of Science 23 (2): 323-335. 2018.We present a cognitive psychology experiment where participants were asked to select pairs of spatial directions that they considered to be the best example of Two different wind directions. Data are shown to violate the CHSH version of Bell’s inequality with the same magnitude as in typical Bell-test experiments with entangled spins. Wind directions thus appear to be conceptual entities connected through meaning, in human cognition, in a similar way as spins appear to be entangled in experiment…Read more
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32Ceci n'est pas Heinz von FoersterConstructivist Foundations 1 (1): 13--18. 2005.Excerpt: In 1995, the Leo Apostel Centre in Brussels, Belgium, organised an international conference called ``Einstein meets Magritte''. Nobel prize winner Ilya Prigogine held the opening lecture at the conference, and Heinz von Foerster's lecture was scheduled last... Heinz von Foerster was enchanted by the conference theme and -- in the spirit of surrealist Belgian painter René Magritte -- had chosen an appropriate title for his talk: ``Ceci n'est pas Albert Einstein''. ... [H]e was delighted …Read more
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31Quantum Structure in Cognition: Human Language as a Boson Gas of Entangled WordsFoundations of Science 25 (3): 755-802. 2020.We model a piece of text of human language telling a story by means of the quantum structure describing a Bose gas in a state close to a Bose–Einstein condensate near absolute zero temperature. For this we introduce energy levels for the words (concepts) used in the story and we also introduce the new notion of ‘cogniton’ as the quantum of human thought. Words (concepts) are then cognitons in different energy states as it is the case for photons in different energy states, or states of different…Read more
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31Constantin Piron at sixty-plus: Continuing a quest for the understanding of fundamental physical theories and the pursuit of their elaboration (review)Foundations of Physics 24 (8): 1107-1111. 1994.
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29Editorial: Synthesis and analysis, interdisciplinarity and foundations (review)Foundations of Science 3 (2): 203-206. 1998.
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24Spin and Wind Directions II: A Bell State Quantum ModelFoundations of Science 23 (2): 337-365. 2018.In the first half of this two-part article, we analyzed a cognitive psychology experiment where participants were asked to select pairs of directions that they considered to be the best example of Two Different Wind Directions, and showed that the data violate the CHSH version of Bell’s inequality, with same magnitude as in typical Bell-test experiments in physics. In this second part, we complete our analysis by presenting a symmetrized version of the experiment, still violating the CHSH inequa…Read more
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24A cross-disciplinary framework for the description of contextually mediated changeIn World Scientific (ed.), Physics of Emergence and Organization, . pp. 109--134. 2008.
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24Quantum Theory Methods as a Possible Alternative for the Double-Blind Gold Standard of Evidence-Based Medicine: Outlining a New Research ProgramFoundations of Science 24 (2): 217-225. 2019.We motivate the possibility of using notions and methods derived from quantum physics, and more specifically from the research field known as ‘quantum cognition’, to optimally model different situations in the field of medicine, its decision-making processes and ensuing practices, particularly in relation to chronic and rare diseases. This also as a way to devise alternative approaches to the generally adopted double-blind gold standard.
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24Probing The Meaning Of Quantum Mechanics: Probability, Metaphysics, Explanation And Measurement (edited book)World Scientific. 2023.Quantum theory is perhaps our best confirmed theory for a description of the physical properties of nature. On top of demonstrating great empirical effectiveness, many technological developments in the 20th century (such as the interpretation of the periodic table of elements, CD players, holograms, and quantum state teleportation) were only made possible with Quantum theory.Despite its success in the past decades, even today it still remains without a universally accepted interpretation.This bo…Read more
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19Einstein meets Magritte: an interdisciplinary reflection: the white book of "Einstein meets Magritte" (edited book)Kluwer Academic. 1999.Einstein Meets Magritte: An Interdisciplinary Reflection presents insights of the renowned key speakers of the interdisciplinary Einstein meets Magritte conference (1995, Brussels Free University). The contributions elaborate on fundamental questions of science, with regard to the contemporary world, and push beyond the borders of traditional approaches. All of the articles in this volume address this fundamental theme, but somewhere along the road the volume expanded to become much more than a …Read more
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19Quantum Structure in Cognition: Human Language as a Boson Gas of Entangled WordsFoundations of Science 25 (3): 755-802. 2020.We model a piece of text of human language telling a story by means of the quantum structure describing a Bose gas in a state close to a Bose–Einstein condensate near absolute zero temperature. For this we introduce energy levels for the words used in the story and we also introduce the new notion of ‘cogniton’ as the quantum of human thought. Words are then cognitons in different energy states as it is the case for photons in different energy states, or states of different radiative frequency, …Read more
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19Correction to: Preface of the Special Issue: International Symposium “Worlds of Entanglement” - Second PartFoundations of Science 26 (1): 5-5. 2018.A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10699-021-09793-2.
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18Quantum Structure in Cognition: Human Language as a Boson Gas of Entangled WordsFoundations of Science 25 (3): 755-802. 2020.We model a piece of text of human language telling a story by means of the quantum structure describing a Bose gas in a state close to a Bose–Einstein condensate near absolute zero temperature. For this we introduce energy levels for the words used in the story and we also introduce the new notion of ‘cogniton’ as the quantum of human thought. Words are then cognitons in different energy states as it is the case for photons in different energy states, or states of different radiative frequency, …Read more
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16Preface of the Special Issue International Symposium “Worlds of Entanglement”Foundations of Science 25 (1): 1-4. 2020.
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16Worldviews, Science and Us: Philosophy and Complexity (edited book)World Scientific. 2007.Previous ideas do not necessarily sit comfortably with the new paradigm, resulting in new ideas or new interpretations of old ideas.In this unprecedented ...
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16Quantum Theory Methods as a Possible Alternative for the Double-Blind Gold Standard of Evidence-Based Medicine: Outlining a New Research ProgramFoundations of Science 24 (2): 217-225. 2019.We motivate the possibility of using notions and methods derived from quantum physics, and more specifically from the research field known as ‘quantum cognition’, to optimally model different situations in the field of medicine, its decision-making processes and ensuing practices, particularly in relation to chronic and rare diseases. This also as a way to devise alternative approaches to the generally adopted double-blind gold standard.
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16Spin and Wind Directions I: Identifying Entanglement in Nature and CognitionFoundations of Science 23 (2): 323-335. 2018.We present a cognitive psychology experiment where participants were asked to select pairs of spatial directions that they considered to be the best example of Two different wind directions. Data are shown to violate the CHSH version of Bell’s inequality with the same magnitude as in typical Bell-test experiments with entangled spins. Wind directions thus appear to be conceptual entities connected through meaning, in human cognition, in a similar way as spins appear to be entangled in experiment…Read more
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12This book provides an interdisciplinary approach to one of the most fascinating and important open questions in science: What is quantum mechanics really talking about? In the last decades quantum mechanics has given rise to a new quantum technological era, a revolution taking place today especially within the field of quantum information processing; which goes from quantum teleportation and cryptography to quantum computation. Quantum theory is probably our best confirmed physical theory. Howev…Read more
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11Preface of the Special Issue International Symposium “Worlds of Entanglement”Foundations of Science 25 (1): 1-4. 2020.
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10Preface of the Special Issue International Symposium “Worlds of Entanglement”Foundations of Science 25 (1): 1-4. 2020.
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9Preface of the Special Issue: International Symposium “Worlds of Entanglement” - Second PartFoundations of Science 26 (1): 1-4. 2018.We present the fundamentals of the quantum theoretical approach we have developed in the last decade to model cognitive phenomena that resisted modeling by means of classical logical and probabilistic structures, like Boolean, Kolmogorovian and, more generally, set theoretical structures. We firstly sketch the operational-realistic foundations of conceptual entities, i.e. concepts, conceptual combinations, propositions, decision-making entities, etc. Then, we briefly illustrate the application o…Read more
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Vrije Universiteit BrusselResearcher
Brussels, Belgium