Scientific realism and the quantum / edited by Steven French and Juha Saatsi.
| Other author | French, Steven. |
| Other author | Saatsi, Juha. |
| Other author | Oxford University Press. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication Info | Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2020. |
| Description | viii, 320 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Oxford Scholarship Online |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Introduction / Steven French and Juha Saatsi -- Part I: Rethinking scientific realism -- Scientific realism without the quantum / Carl Hoefer -- Truth vs. progress realism about spin / Juha Saatsi -- Part II: Underdetermination and interpretation -- Can we quarantine the quantum blight? / Craig Callender -- On the plurality of quantum theories: Quantum theory as a framework and its implications for the quantum measurement problem / David Wallace -- Naturalism and the interpretation of quantum mechanics / J. E. Wolff -- Part III: Pragmatism about quantum theory -- Pragmatist quantum theory handle objectivity about explanations? / Lina Jansson -- Quantum mechanics and its (dis)contents / Peter J. Lewis -- Part IV: Wavefunctions and quantum state realism -- Losing sight of the forest for the psi: Beyond the wavefunction hegemony / Alisa Bokulich -- Scientific realism without the wave function / Valia Allori -- On the status of quantum state realism / Wayne C. Myrvold -- Part V: Scientific realism and quantum field theory -- The non-miraculous success of formal analogies in quantum theories / Doreen Fraser -- Toward a realist view of quantum field theory / James D. Fraser -- Perturbing realism / Laura Ruetsche. |
| Abstract | "Quantum theory is widely regarded as one of the most successful theories in the history of science. It explains a hugely diverse array of phenomena and is a natural candidate for our best representation of the world at the level of 'fundamental' physics. But how can the world be the way quantum theory says it is? It is famously unclear what the world is like according to quantum physics, which presents a serious problem for the scientific realist who is committed to regarding our best theories as more or less true. The present volume canvasses a variety of responses to this problem, from restricting or revising realism in different ways to exploring entirely new directions in the lively debate surrounding realist interpretations of quantum physics. Some urge us to focus on new formulations of the theory itself, while others examine the status of scientific realism in the further context of quantum field theory. Each chapter is written by a renowned specialist in the field and is aimed at graduate students and researchers in both physics and the philosophy of science. Together they offer a range of illuminating new perspectives on this fundamental debate and exemplify the fruitful interaction between physics and philosophy." -- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and indexes. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2019951277 |
| ISBN | 9780198814979 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 0198814976 (hardcover) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |