Scientific Explanation in Quantum Theory

Clifton, Rob (1998) Scientific Explanation in Quantum Theory.

Abstract

In this paper (which is, at best, a work in progress), I discuss different modes of scientific explanation
identified by philosophers
(Hempel, Salmon, Kitcher, Friedman, Hughes)
and
examine how well or badly
they capture the "explanations" of phenomena that modern quantum theory provides. I tentatively
conclude that quantum explanation is best seen as "structural explanation", and spell
out in detail how this
works in the case of explaining vacuum correlations. Problems and prospects for
structural explanation in
quantum theory are also discussed.