Thought experiment

In physics and other fields, a thought experiment (from the German Gedankenexperiment) is an experiment that is not intended to be performed. These experiments are used to attempt to understand something about the universe.

Famous thought experiments inclue:

• Infinite monkey theorem
• Maxwell's demon (thermodynamics) 1871
• Twin paradox (special relativity)
• Schrödinger's cat (quantum mechanics)
• EPR paradox (quantum mechanics) (forms of this have actually been performed)
• Quantum suicide (quantum mechanics)
• CHSH inequality (quantum mechanics)
• GHZ experiment (quantum mechanics)
• Wigner's friend (quantum mechanics)
• Chinese Room (philosophy, artificial intelligence, cognitive science)
• Simulated reality (philosophy, computer science, cognitive science)