Quantum mechanics and the communication of meaning: a phenomenological framework (forthcoming)

Quantum mechanics presents one of the greatest challenges for scientific communication. Its mathematical formalism is remarkably successful in predicting phenomena, yet its conceptual framework resists intuitive understanding and clashes with the categories of classical thought. As a result, communication often falls into two extremes: either oversimplification, which risks distorting the content, or an excess of technical detail, which alienates the audience. This tension is not limited to science outreach: interpretive debates within the scientific community reveal that communication problems exist also among specialists. As Niels Bohr emphasized, “however far the phenomena transcend the scope of classical physical explanation, the account of all evidence must be expressed in classical terms”. This contribution aims to explore phenomenology as a communicative key for quantum mechanics. By drawing on Husserl’s principle of “returning to the things themselves,” the paper seeks to reframe quantum communication around the lived experience of observation and measurement, rather than treating the formalism as a detached and purely abstract structure. The goal is twofold: 1. To improve the clarity of scientific dialogue within the research community, offering a conceptual framework that reduces interpretive ambiguities. 2. To enhance science communication and outreach, making quantum theory more accessible without resorting to misleading analogies or metaphors.