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Is the idea of superposition multiple states irrational?

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Author and Natural Philosopher

07 Jul 2024
Published 1 year ago.
Updated 1 month ago.
Wave-Particle Duality
Idea of Ideas < Five Thought Tools < Critical Thinking
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Is the idea of superposition multiple states irrational?

Yes. According to the Idea of Ideas, all ideas start as irrational until proven. Just because an idea is popular or compelling does not make it true. The claim that particles, atoms, and molecules exist in all possible states at once remains speculative, and currently, there is not enough solid evidence to confirm it.

Yes, experiments like the double-slit experiment hint at it, but hints are not proof. What we actually observe is an interference pattern that suggests particles behave like waves of probability—not direct evidence that they physically exist in multiple places simultaneously.

A key principle of critical thinking is recognizing the difference between observations and interpretations. The observation is clear: quantum systems behave in a way that suggests multiple possibilities exist before measurement. The interpretation that these possibilities are physically real in all states at once is a hypothesis, not a conclusion.

This is where cognitive caution is required. Some interpretations, like Many-Worlds, take the math literally and assume all possibilities actually exist in parallel realities. But interpretations are not reality—they are models we use to describe what we see.

For now, the most rational stance is to acknowledge that quantum mechanics deals with potential states, and until we have clear, repeatable experimental confirmation that all states truly exist at once, the rational position is skepticism. Quantum physics remains an open question—not a settled fact.

Michael Alan Prestwood
Author & Natural Philosopher

Prestwood writes on science-first philosophy, with particular attention to the convergence of disciplines. Drawing on his TST Framework, his work emphasizes rational inquiry grounded in empirical observation while engaging questions at the edges of established knowledge. With TouchstoneTruth positioned as a living touchstone, this work aims to contribute reliable analysis in an emerging AI era where the credibility of information is increasingly contested.

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7 Jan 2026 Edition
Story of the Week
Heraclitus
Quote of the Week
“Everything is in flux.”
Weekly Crossroads!
1. Science »
Will the night sky have stars nearly forever?
2. Philosophy »
What does existence before essence mean?
3. Critical Thinking »
Is cause and effect certain?
4. History!
Who were the Presocratic Philosophers?
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