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Objective description in physics

Halvorson, Hans (2022) Objective description in physics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

I argue against the claim -- advocated by Albert Einstein, Bernard Williams, and Ted Sider, among others -- that a description is objective only if it says how the world is in itself. Instead, I argue for the claim -- inspired by comments of Niels Bohr -- that a family of descriptions is objective only if they co-vary with their respective descriptive contexts. Moreover, I claim that "there is a shared objective reality" simply means that it is possible to satisfy this kind of covariance requirement.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Halvorson, Hanshhalvors@princeton.edu0000-0003-3022-2344
Keywords: objectivity, quantum mechanics, absolute conception, god's eye view, Einstein, Bohr
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User: Hans Halvorson
Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2022 03:47
Last Modified: 29 Apr 2022 03:47
Item ID: 20520
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
General Issues > Values In Science
Date: April 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20520

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