Barrett, Jeffrey A. and Huttegger, Simon (2020) Quantum Randomness and Underdetermination. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We consider the nature of quantum randomness and how one might have empirical evidence for it. We will see why, depending on one's computational resources, it may be impossible to determine whether a particular notion of randomness properly characterizes one's empirical data. Indeed, we will see why even an ideal observer under ideal epistemic conditions may never have any empirical evidence whatsoever for believing that the results of one's quantum-mechanical experiments are randomly determined. This illustrates a radical sort of empirical underdetermination faced by fundamentally stochastic theories like quantum mechanics.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Barrett, Jeffrey A. j.barrett@uci.edu Huttegger, Simon shuttegg@uci.edu
Keywords:	quantum mechanics, randomness, empirical underdetermination, algorithmic randomness
Subjects:	General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism General Issues > Evidence Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Jeffrey Barrett
Date Deposited:	12 Feb 2020 00:25
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2020 00:25
Item ID:	16905
Subjects:	General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism General Issues > Evidence Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	11 February 2020
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16905

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