A modal ontology of properties for quantum mechanics

Synthese 190 (17):3671-3693 (2013)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Our purpose in this paper is to delineate an ontology for quantum mechanics that results adequate to the formalism of the theory. We will restrict our aim to the search of an ontology that expresses the conceptual content of the recently proposed modal-Hamiltonian interpretation, according to which the domain referred to by non-relativistic quantum mechanics is an ontology of properties. The usual strategy in the literature has been to focus on only one of the interpretive problems of the theory and to design an interpretation to solve it, leaving aside the remaining difficulties. On the contrary, our aim in the present work is to formulate a “global” solution, according to which different problems can be adequately tackled in terms of a single ontology populated of properties, in which systems are bundles of properties. In particular, we will conceive indistinguishability between bundles as a relation derived from indistinguishability between properties, and we will show that states, when operating on combinations of indistinguishable bundles, act as if they were symmetric with no need of a symmetrization postulate.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Quantum Mechanics: Ontology Without Individuals.Newton da Costa & Olimpia Lombardi - 2014 - Foundations of Physics 44 (12):1246-1257.
A modal-Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics.Olimpia Lombardi & Mario Castagnino - 2008 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 39 (2):380-443.
Muchos Mundos Bohmianos.Albert Solé - 2012 - Scientiae Studia 10 (1):105-136.
Dispositions, relational properties and the quantum world.Mauro Dorato - 2017 - In Maximilien Kistler (ed.), Dispositions and Causal Powers, Routledge, 2017,. London: Routledge. pp. pp.249-270..
Intrinsic Properties of Quantum Systems.P. Hájíček & J. Tolar - 2009 - Foundations of Physics 39 (5):411-432.
The properties of modal interpretations of quantum mechanics.Rob Clifton - 1996 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 47 (3):371-398.

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-12-21

Downloads
63 (#231,470)

6 months
2 (#668,348)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Citations of this work

Identity and individuality in quantum theory.Steven French - 2008 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Entanglement and indistinguishability in a quantum ontology of properties.Sebastian Fortin & Olimpia Lombardi - 2022 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 91 (C):234-243.
A new application of the modal-Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics: The problem of optical isomerism.Sebastian Fortin, Olimpia Lombardi & Juan Camilo Martínez González - 2018 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 62:123-135.
Quantum Mechanics: Ontology Without Individuals.Newton da Costa & Olimpia Lombardi - 2014 - Foundations of Physics 44 (12):1246-1257.

View all 15 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

Identity in physics: a historical, philosophical, and formal analysis.Steven French & Decio Krause - 2006 - New York: Oxford University Press. Edited by Decio Krause.
The Problem of Hidden Variables in Quantum Mechanics.Simon Kochen & E. P. Specker - 1967 - Journal of Mathematics and Mechanics 17:59--87.
The development of logic.W. C. Kneale - 1962 - New York: Oxford University Press. Edited by Martha Kneale.
Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction.Michael J. Loux & Thomas M. Crisp - 1997 - New York: Routledge. Edited by Thomas M. Crisp.
Modal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics.Olimpia Lombardi & Dennis Dieks - forthcoming - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

View all 17 references / Add more references