de Ronde, Christian (2020) Quantum Theory Needs No ‘Interpretation’ But ‘Theoretical Formal-Conceptual Unity’ (Or: Escaping Adán Cabello’s “Map of Madness” With the Help of David Deutsch’s Explanations). [Preprint]

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Abstract

In the year 2000, in a paper titled Quantum Theory Needs No ‘Interpretation’, Chris Fuchs and Asher Peres presented a series of instrumentalist arguments against the role played by ‘interpretations’ in QM. Since then —quite regardless of the publication of this paper— the number of interpretations has experienced a continuous growth constituting what Adán Cabello has characterized as a “map of madness”. In this work, we discuss the reasons behind this dangerous fragmentation in understanding and provide new arguments against the need of interpretations in QM which —opposite to those of Fuchs and Peres— are derived from a representational realist understanding of theories —grounded in the writings of Einstein, Heisenberg and Pauli. Furthermore, we will argue that there are reasons to believe that the creation of ‘interpretations’ for the theory of quanta has functioned as a trap designed by anti-realists in order to imprison realists in a labyrinth with no exit. Taking as a standpoint the critical analysis by David Deutsch to the anti-realist understanding of physics, we attempt to address the references and roles played by ‘theory’ and ‘observation’. In this respect, we will argue that the key to escape the anti-realist trap of interpretation is to recognize that —as Einstein told Heisenberg almost one century ago— it is only the theory which can tell you what can be observed. Finally, we will conclude that what QM needs is not a new interpretation but instead, a theoretical (formal-conceptual) consistent, coherent and unified scheme which allows us to understand what the theory is really talking about.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID de Ronde, Christian cderonde@gmail.com
Keywords:	Interpretation, explanation, representation, quantum theory.
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Theory/Observation
Depositing User:	Christian de Ronde
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2020 02:14
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2020 02:14
Item ID:	17688
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Theory/Observation
Date:	1 August 2020
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/17688

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