Allori, Valia and Bricmont, Jean (2025) Mind, Matter, and Freedom in Quantum Mechanics and the de Broglie–Bohm Theory. [Preprint]
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Abstract
There are several important philosophical problems to which quantum mechanics is often said to have
made significant contributions:
• Determinism: quantum theory has been taken to refute determinism;
• Free Will: in turn, this is thought to open the door to free will;
• The mind-body problem: relatedly, it is sometimes said to shed light on consciousness;
• Idealism: more radically, quantum theory is assumed to have refuted realism and to have
placed the observer at the center of the world;
• Reductionism: even granting realism, it has been claimed that quantum theory undermines
reductionism.
Our main thesis in this paper is that none of this is either necessary or desirable. By adopting the de
Broglie–Bohm theory (or Bohmian mechanics), one can straightforwardly account for quantum
phenomena without endorsing any of these claims.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Keywords: | quantum theory; de Broglie-Bohm theory; realism; idealism; reductionism; determinism; predictability; free will; the mind-body problem; consciousness | |||||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Reductionism/Holism |
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| Depositing User: | Dr Valia Allori | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 11 Nov 2025 13:40 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 11 Nov 2025 13:40 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 27046 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Reductionism/Holism |
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| Date: | 2025 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27046 |
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