EXPLORING THE PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS

Abstract

Quantum mechanics represents one of the most profound revolutions in the history of human thought, not merely as a scientific theory but as a philosophical challenge to classical conceptions of reality, causality, and knowledge. This study explores the philosophical aspects of quantum mechanics with particular attention to its implications for metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science. The objective of the work is to critically examine how quantum theory reshapes traditional notions of determinism, objectivity, and the nature of reality. Methodologically, the study adopts a conceptual and analytical philosophical approach, engaging key interpretations of quantum mechanics such as the Copenhagen interpretation, realism, and indeterminism, while also integrating interdisciplinary philosophical reflections. The findings reveal that quantum mechanics destabilises classical mechanistic worldviews and introduces a relational and probabilistic ontology that challenges absolute determinism and observer-independent reality. Furthermore, the study establishes that quantum theory opens new philosophical pathways for understanding knowledge, existence, and the limits of scientific explanation. In terms of application, the research demonstrates that the philosophical insights of quantum mechanics are relevant not only to physics but also to broader intellectual discourses, including African philosophy, epistemology, and contemporary metaphysical inquiry. Ultimately, the paper argues that quantum mechanics should be interpreted not merely as a scientific model but as a philosophical principle that compels a re-evaluation of the nature of reality and human understanding.