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Representational Realism, Closed Theories and the Quantum to Classical Limit

de Ronde, Christian (2016) Representational Realism, Closed Theories and the Quantum to Classical Limit. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In this paper we discuss the representational realist stance as a pluralist ontic approach to inter-theoretic relationships. Our stance stresses the fact that physical theories require the necessary consideration of a conceptual level of discourse which determines and configures the specific field of phenomena discussed by each particular theory. We will criticize the orthodox line of research which has grounded the analysis about QM in two (Bohrian) metaphysical presuppositions —accepted in the present as dogmas that all interpretations must follow. We will also examine how the orthodox project of "bridging the gap" between the quantum and the classical domains has constrained the possibilities of research, producing only a limited set of interpretational problems which only focus in the justification of "classical reality" and exclude the possibility of analyzing the possibilities of non-classical conceptual representations of QM. The representational realist stance introduces two new problems, namely, the superposition problem and the contextuality problem, which consider explicitly the conceptual representation of orthodox QM beyond the mere reference to mathematical structures and measurement outcomes. In the final part of the paper, we revisit, from a representational realist perspective, the quantum to classical limit and the orthodox claim that this inter-theoretic relation can be explained through the principle of decoherence.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
de Ronde, Christiancderonde@gmail.com
Additional Information: Forthcoming in R. E. Kastner, J. Jeknic-Dugic and G. Jaroszkiewicz (Eds.), Quantum Structural Studies
Keywords: representational realism, closed theories, quantum limit.
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User: Christian de Ronde
Date Deposited: 19 Feb 2016 01:06
Last Modified: 19 Feb 2016 01:06
Item ID: 11912
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date: 17 February 2016
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11912

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