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What the Humean cannot say about entanglement

Dewar, Neil (2016) What the Humean cannot say about entanglement. [Preprint]

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Abstract

There has recently been debate in the literature over whether the metaphysical doctrine popularly known as Humean supervenience can be reconciled—in whole or in part—with certain empirical facts about quantum entanglement. In this paper, I undertake a critical analysis of Humean efforts to effect such a reconciliation. I begin with a discussion of the relationship between Humeanism and quantum mechanics; I suggest that there are some difficulties even when considering single-particle quantum mechanics, but agree that the real problems come when considering many-particle quantum mechanics. I then review the available strategies for overcoming this problem, and find them wanting.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Dewar, Neilneil.a.dewar@gmail.com
Additional Information: Winner of the Metaphysics of Entanglement 2015 essay prize.
Keywords: Humean supervenience Quantum mechanics Entanglement
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Neil Dewar
Date Deposited: 18 Apr 2016 13:56
Last Modified: 18 Apr 2016 13:56
Item ID: 12046
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 31 January 2016
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12046

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