Название: Interpreting quantum theory: a therapeutic approach Автор: Simon Friederich Издательство: New directions in the philosophy of science Год: 2015 Формат: pdf Страниц: 202 Размер: 13,8 mb Язык: English
Pursuing this project, the book develops and defends the idea that quantum states do not represent features of physical reality, it distinguishes between legitimate and illegitimate uses of anthropocentric notions in foundational accounts, it considers the nature of explanation in quantum theory, and it addresses complications that arise in quantum field theory. In addition, it argues that quantum theory is 'locally causal' inasmuch as quantum probabilities, properly construed, are independent of what occurs at space-like distance.
Preface xll
Part I Introduction and Background
1 Introduction 3
1.1 Quantum foundations 3
1.2 The Idea of a therapeutic approach 6
1.3 Outline of this work 8
2 Sketch of the Formalism 13
2.1 The Hilbert space formalism 13
2.2 Measurement and collapse 18
2.3 Many-component systems and entanglement 21
3 Interpretations as Solutions to the Measurement Problem 26
3.1 Exposition of the problem 26
3.1.1 Maudlin's formulation 26
3.1.2 A fallacious solution 29
3.2 Additional parameters 31
3.2.1 Pilot wave theory 31
3.2.2 Alternatives: modal interpretations 37
3.3 SchrOdinger time-evolution not universal? 38
3.3.1 From Wigner to Penrose 39
3.3.2 The GRYV model 40
3.4 No determinate outcomes 41
3.4.1 Defining branches 42
3.4.2 How do probabilities fit into the picture? 44
Part II The Rule Perspective
4 Motivating a Therapeutic Approach 49
4.1 Absence of the foundational problems In practice 49
4.2 Philosophy as therapy 50
4.3 Quantum states as non-descriptive 53
4.3.1 Dissolving the measurement problem 54
4.3.2 Collapse as update 55
4.3.3 Types of epistemic accounts 56
4.4 Space-time structure and collapse 58
5 In Search of a Viable Epistemic Account 61
5.1 Knowledge of probabilities versus probabilities as degrees of belief 61
5.2 Quantum Bayeslanism 62
5.2.1 Probabilities as subjective 62
5.2.2 Values of observables as subjective? 64
5.3 Objectivity of observables measured in an epistemic account of states 68
5.4 Constitutive rules 71
6 Quantum Probabilities: What Are They? 75
6.1 Probabilities of what? 75
6.2 Probabilities of what kind? 79
6.2.1 Relative frequencies? 80
6.2.2 Propensities? 82
6.2.3 Objective probabilities as constraints on rational credences 84
6.3 Objections to this interpretation of probabilities 85
6.3.1 The means/ends objection 85
6.3.2 The quantum Bayesian Moore's paradox 87
Part III Objections
7 Copenhagen Reloaded? 95
7.1 Bohr and 'classical language' 96
7.2 Heisenberg and the epistemic conception of quantum states 99
7.2.1 Heisenberg on pure versus mixed states 99
7.2.2 Heisenberg on quantum probabilities as 'objective tendencies' 102
8 The Charge of Anthropocentrism 105
8.1 Bell's criticism 105
8.2 Anthropocentric notions and value determinateness 108
9 Reduction and Explanation 113
9.1 The micro/macro divide 113
9.2 Explanation without ontic quantum states 115
Part IV Non-locality, Quantum Field Theory, and Reality
10 Non-locality Reconsidered 125
10.1 Quantum theory and special relativity - again 125
10.2 Formulating local causality 127
10.2.1 Causation and counterfactuals 129
10.2.2 Local causality probabilistically 132
10.3 The Principal Principle and admissible evidence 136
10.4 Intuitive probabilistic local causality in the language of the Principal Principle 139
10.5 Quantum theory, local causality, and the Principal Principle 141
10.6 But how does nature perform the trick? 143
11 A Look at Quantum Field Theory 146
11.1 Lagranglan versus algebraic quantum field theory 146
11.2 Basics of the algebraic approach 147
11.3 'Pristine' interpretations 148
11.4 The Rule Perspective and unpristlne interpretations 150
11.5 The case for an unpristlne interpretation 152
12 Quantum Theory and 'Reality' 157
12.1 Instrumentalism? 158
12.2 Sharp values for all observables? 161
12.3 Conclusion 166
Appendices
Appendix A Sketch of Bell's Theorem 168
Appendix B The Kochen-Specker Theorem in a Nutshell 172
Appendix C The Pusey-Barrett-Rudolph (PBR) Theorem - A Short Introduction 175
Notes 178
Bibliography 187
Index 197
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