Healey, Richard (2025) Quantum Theory from a Pragmatist Perspective. Quantum Physics and Cosmology: The Mysteries of the Infinitely Small and the Infinitely Large. pp. 79-108. ISSN Print ISBN:9781789452334 |Online ISBN:9781394427673

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Abstract

This essay offers a pragmatist perspective on quantum theory. From a pragmatist perspective an individual human is first and foremost an evolved organism—a part of the natural world. Applications of quantum theory have improved our understanding of that world, despite lack of consensus on the measurement problem and the problem of non-local action. The quantum measurement problem involves reconciling quantum theory with the fact that measurements have outcomes of the sort of the theory was created to predict and (as far as possible) explain. Observed violations of Bell inequalities portend non-local influence. But from a pragmatist perspective, there is no non-local influence, and the measurement problem does not arise, although a measurement outcome remains an (objective) relative fact. RQM, QBism and convivial solipsism are alternative forms of relativism. The naturalism Rovelli claims as a virtue of RQM is a robust form of object naturalism: for a subject-naturalist, it requires too much. QBism and convivial solipsism both appeal to phenomenal experience. QBists consider quantum states, Born probabilities and measurement outcomes personal to the agent applying quantum theory, not simply to a physical situation in which that agent might find herself.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Healey, Richard richardahealey@gmail.com 0000-0001-9329-2927
Keywords:	pragmatism, quantum mechanics, measurement problem, non-local action, quantum field ontology, QBism, RQM, convivial solipsism
Depositing User:	Richard Andrew Healey
Date Deposited:	08 Dec 2025 14:06
Last Modified:	08 Dec 2025 14:06
Item ID:	27404
Journal or Publication Title:	Quantum Physics and Cosmology: The Mysteries of the Infinitely Small and the Infinitely Large
Publisher:	Wiley online library
Official URL:	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/978139...
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1002/9781394427673
Date:	28 November 2025
Page Range:	pp. 79-108
ISSN:	Print ISBN:9781789452334 |Online ISBN:9781394427673
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27404

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