Three perspectives on Schrödinger’s cat

The resolutions to the paradox of Schrödinger’s cat engendered by three major perspectives on quantum mechanics—quantum logic, the many worlds interpretation, and the Copenhagen interpretation—are discussed. The core of each perspective is revealed in the process. Each resolution to Schrödinger’s cat has a counterpart which solves the logical paradox known as the unexpected hanging. The rather striking parallels serve to emphasize several points. First, the quantum paradox is an epistemological and not a physical one. Second, the three interpretations mentioned, unlike some others, are faithful to this understanding. And third, the pitfalls in these two paradoxes have a somewhat universal character.