Philosophy and Logic of Quantum Physics

Table Of Contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• About the author
• About the book
• This eBook can be cited
• Contents
• Joint Foreword
• Part 1: Theory and Observation in Quantum Physics
• 1. Introduction
• Part I. Theory and Observation
• 2. The Relationship between Theory and Observation
• 3. Classification of Terms and Sentences
• 3.1 Empirical Terms
• 3.1.1 Observational Terms and Ostensive Learnability
• 3.1.2 Empirical Disposition Terms
• 3.2 Theoretical Terms
• 3.2.1 Theoretical Terms in the Broad Sense
• 3.2.2 Theoretical Terms in the Narrow Sense
• 3.3 Classification of Statements
• 4. Theory (In-)dependence
• 4.1 Theory (In-)dependence of Observational Language
• 4.2 Theory (In-)dependence of Observation
• 4.3 Linguistic Relativism
• 5. Ontological Status of Scientific Theories
• 5.1 Realism and Antirealism
• 5.2 Kinds of (Anti-)Realism
• 5.2.1 Fundamental Positions
• 5.2.2 Advanced Positions
• 5.3 The Case against Solipsism
• 5.4 The Case against Metaphysical Realism
• 5.5 The Case against Radical Constructivism
• 5.6 The Case for and against Constructive Realism
• 5.6.1 Inference of the Best Explanation
• 5.6.2 Pessimistic Meta-Induction
• 5.6.3 Intertheoretical Correspondence
• 5.6.4 Justification of Abduction according to Schurz
• 5.6.5 The Logical Positivist Objection
• 5.7 Towards a Modern Radical Empiricism
• 5.7.1 The Independence of Theory
• 5.7.2 Observational Language as Ostensively Learnable Language
• 5.7.3 The Limited Theory-Ladeness of Observational Language
• 5.7.4 Literalness of Theories
• Part II. Basics of Quantum Physics
• 6. The Classical Picture of the World
• 7. Experimental Basis of Quantum Physics
• 8. The Quantum Explanation
• 8.1 Wave-Particle Duality
• 8.2 Schrödinger Equation and Born Rule
• 8.3 Observables
• 8.4 Einstein-Podolski-Rosen Paradox and Quantum Entanglement
• 9. No-go Theorems
• 9.1 Bell’s Theorem
• 9.2 Kochen-Specker Theorem
• 10. Interpretations
• 10.1 Schrödinger’s cat
• 10.2 Subjectivist Interpretations
• 10.3 Objective-Collapse Interpretations
• 10.4 Modal Interpretations
• 10.5 Many-Worlds Interpretation
• 10.6 Hidden-Variable Interpretations
• 10.7 Operational Approach
• Part III. Reflections on Quantum Physics
• 11. Theory and Observation in Quantum Physics
• 11.1 Observables and Observation
• 11.2 Theory or Interpretation?
• 11.3 Theory and Ontology
• 11.4 Structural Correspondences of Interpretations
• 12. Is Quantum Physics Acceptable?
• 12.1 Indeterminism
• 12.2 Value Definiteness
• 12.3 Measurement Problem
• 13. Ontology of Quantum Physics
• 13.1 Value Definiteness and Ontology
• 13.2 Interpretations and Ontology
• 13.2.1 Subjectivist Interpretations
• 13.2.2 Objective-Collapse Interpretations
• 13.2.3 Modal Interpretations
• 13.2.4 Many-Worlds Interpretation
• 13.2.5 Hidden-Variable Interpretations
• 13.2.6 Operational Approach
• 13.2.7 Interpretations and Ontological Parsimony
• 13.3 Literalness and the Challenge of Quantum Gravity
• 14. Conclusion
• References
• Part 2: Quantum Logic
• Introduction
• 1. Fundamentals of Classical Logic and Quantum Mechanics
• 1.1 Peculiarities of Quantum Mechanics
• 1.2 Classical Logic
• 2. Quantum logic and the distributive law
• 2.1 Birkhoff and von Neumann’s argument
• 2.1.1 Popper’s criticism
• 2.1.2 Schurz’s criticism
• 2.2 Putnams’s argument
• 2.2.1 Dummett’s criticism
• 2.2.2 Stachel’s criticism
• 2.3 Conclusion on the distributive law
• 3. Meaning and bivalence in Putnam’s quantum logical system
• 3.1 Invariance of meaning
• 3.2 Bivalence
• 4. Conclusion
• References
• Joint Conclusion