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Correspondence Truth and Quantum Mechanics

Karakostas, Vassilios (2014) Correspondence Truth and Quantum Mechanics. Axiomathes, 24 (3). pp. 343-358. ISSN 1572-8390

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Abstract

The logic of a physical theory reflects the structure of the propositions referring to the behaviour of a physical system in the domain of the relevant theory. It is argued in relation to classical mechanics that the propositional structure of the theory allows truth-value assignment in conformity with the traditional conception of a correspondence theory of truth. Every proposition in classical mechanics is assigned a definite truth value, either ‘true’ or ‘false’, describing what is actually the case at a certain moment of time. Truth-value assignment in quantum mechanics, however, differs; it is known, by means of a variety of ‘no go’ theorems, that it is not possible to assign definite truth values to all propositions pertaining to a quantum system without generating a Kochen-Specker contradiction. In this respect, the Bub-Clifton ‘uniqueness theorem’ is utilized for arguing that truth-value definiteness is consistently restored with respect to a determinate sublattice of propositions defined by the state of the quantum system concerned and a particular observable to be measured. An account of truth of contextual correspondence is thereby provided that is appropriate to the quantum domain of discourse. The conceptual implications of the resulting account are traced down and analyzed at length. In this light, the traditional conception of correspondence truth may be viewed as a species or as a limit case of the more generic proposed scheme of contextual correspondence when the non-explicit specification of a context of discourse poses no further consequences.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Karakostas, Vassilioskarakost@phs.uoa.gr
Keywords: Correspondence theory, propositional truth, Quantum mechanics, Kochen-Specker theorem, Maximal determinate sublattice, Contextual interpretation, Truth-conditions
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User: Prof. Vassilios Karakostas
Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2015 14:38
Last Modified: 25 Mar 2015 14:38
Item ID: 11387
Journal or Publication Title: Axiomathes
Publisher: Springer
Official URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10516-01...
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1007/s10516-013-9226-3
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date: September 2014
Page Range: pp. 343-358
Volume: 24
Number: 3
ISSN: 1572-8390
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11387

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