Benue State University, Makurdi

An Ontological Inquiry into the Descriptive Status of Matter in Science

Emmanuel Iniobong Archibong, PhD and Gabriel Asuquo

Abstract

The advent of quantum mechanics in Physics has called to question, the status of concrete, material or physical reality. Matter has been that which defines reality. Science in its method and logic has raised the status of material reality to an unprecedented height. Matter is the final arbiter on the issue of empirical reality. However, the wave-particle duality (wavicle) in quantum mechanics as well as the mathematics of strings theory and quantum gravity makes physical reality (matter) looks more like a metaphysical system rather than physical. Employing the method of critical analysis, this study engages the vexing issue from an ontological background (force, motion and change) showing the points at which matter appears to take up immateriality in the double slit experiments of quantum mechanics. A unique finding of the work is the revalidation of the age-old mind-body problem playing out in the province of quantum mechanics (in the behavior of particles to wave). Its outcome suggests that science cannot jettison the necessity of ontology in the discussion, dissemination and the workings of science for the discovery of knowledge.

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