Chen, Eddy Keming (2020) From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement: The Humean Unification. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Two of the most difficult problems in the foundations of physics are (1) what gives rise to the arrow of time and (2) what the ontology of quantum mechanics is. I propose a unified 'Humean' solution to the two problems. Humeanism allows us to incorporate the Past Hypothesis and the Statistical Postulate into the best system, which we then use to simplify the quantum state of the universe. This enables us to confer the nomological status to the quantum state in a way that adds no significant complexity to the best system and solves the ''supervenient-kind problem'' facing the original version of the Past Hypothesis. We call the resultant theory the Humean unification. It provides a unified explanation of time asymmetry and quantum entanglement. On this theory, what gives rise to time's arrow is also responsible for quantum phenomena. The new theory has a separable mosaic, a best system that is simple and non-vague, less tension between quantum mechanics and special relativity, and a higher degree of theoretical and dynamical unity. The Humean unification leads to new insights that can be useful to Humeans and non-Humeans alike.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Chen, Eddy Keming eddykemingchen@ucsd.edu 0000-0001-5144-0952
Keywords:	arrows of time, quantum entanglement, wave function, density matrix, Humean supervenience, laws of nature, Best System Account, the Past Hypothesis, Statistical Postulate, the Mentaculus, objective probabilities, separability, narratability, vagueness, Lorentz invariance
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User:	Dr. Eddy Keming Chen
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2020 14:31
Last Modified:	14 Sep 2020 14:31
Item ID:	18078
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date:	September 2020
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18078

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• From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement: The Humean Unification. (deposited 09 Jun 2020 15:02)
  • From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement: The Humean Unification. (deposited 14 Sep 2020 14:31) [Currently Displayed]

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