As with most of quantum physics, the cat thought experiment shows that our world must be a much stranger place than we had previously understood. Schrödinger wanted to show that the Copenhagen interpretation (which is already pretty strange) leaves questions unanswered, questions which seem (to us as apparently conscious individuals) fundamental and yet to which we have no answers. Or rather, lots of answers and no reason to believe any of them are correct.
I always thought that what Schrodinger’s thought experiment mostly showed was that cats and subatomic particles don’t behave the same way. Which is little surprise to me, but maybe Schrodinger had a thing about cats. I’ve known people who have to bring every conversation round to them, maybe he was like that about cats.
Heisenberg was pulled over by the police on the autobahn. The cop asked him, “do you know how fast you were going?” And Heisenberg answered, “no, but I know where I am.”
August 5, 2010
typos are tragedies (unless I’m just not getting it)
August 5, 2010
the reviews were equivocal
August 5, 2010
What the!
This isn’t a joke for Liberal Arts majors!
Well, then. Me and my snarky quips about 18th century poets will go read webcomics elsewhere.
August 5, 2010
I had to wiki this, but after a long hour of straining thought i finally got it, and it made me lol.
Thanks Dorothy for introducing thought into my brain!
August 5, 2010
Both…until you start watching.
August 5, 2010
Good one, RDI. (Obviously, also: Good one, DG.)
August 5, 2010
The acting was good, but the lead singer sounded like a dying cat.
August 5, 2010
Did they… did they get box seats?
August 5, 2010
Nice to see Dorothy doing some outreach on behalf of the XKCD crowd.
August 5, 2010
Please don’t stop, I come here to fill in the liberal arts holes created by my mathematical and engineering education.
August 5, 2010
Don’t forget it’s an interactive play; the public affects how the story develops.
August 5, 2010
Love it!!
And come on, fellow liberal arts majors, this was a part of my required Philosophy Intro class in my B.A., was it not in yours??
August 5, 2010
seeing is the comedy HAHAHA
August 5, 2010
Love it.
August 5, 2010
I took formal logic for my Philosophy credit. It also counted as a math credit. I haven’t used figures not relating to lumber in seven years.
Oddly enough, I kinda WANT to do math now.
August 6, 2010
As with most of quantum physics, the cat thought experiment shows that our world must be a much stranger place than we had previously understood. Schrödinger wanted to show that the Copenhagen interpretation (which is already pretty strange) leaves questions unanswered, questions which seem (to us as apparently conscious individuals) fundamental and yet to which we have no answers. Or rather, lots of answers and no reason to believe any of them are correct.
August 6, 2010
midnight, and the kitties are and are not sleeping.
August 8, 2010
wunderbar.
August 19, 2010
Now and Forever.
Except when it isn’t.
August 19, 2010
I always thought that what Schrodinger’s thought experiment mostly showed was that cats and subatomic particles don’t behave the same way. Which is little surprise to me, but maybe Schrodinger had a thing about cats. I’ve known people who have to bring every conversation round to them, maybe he was like that about cats.
September 3, 2010
Heisenberg was pulled over by the police on the autobahn. The cop asked him, “do you know how fast you were going?” And Heisenberg answered, “no, but I know where I am.”
April 19, 2011
Omg, I laugh harder each time I read this
October 14, 2013
Love the physics punchline! So, is it an undead cat or an unlive zombie?