Fraser, Patrick and Miller, Michael and Wilson, Jessica (2026) Classical logic and quantum properties. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We articulate a collection of desiderata for an account of the dynamical quantities of a physical theory, and we present a theory that meets these desiderata in the case of quantum mechanics. Our theory retains a distinction between the values of dynamical quantities and the truth values of sentences asserting that a system has a particular value of a particular quantity. This allows our theory to incorporate the phenomenon of quantum indeterminacy as a pattern in the properties instantiated by a system in a particular quantum state, while also retaining the semantics of classical logic. We contrast our theory with quantum logic, which flattens the distinction between quantity values and truth values, and we address a series of objections that have been raised to previous attempts to reconcile quantum indeterminacy with classical logic.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Fraser, Patrick p.fraser@utoronto.ca Miller, Michael michael.earl.miller@gmail.com Wilson, Jessica jessica.m.wilson@utoronto.ca
Keywords:	Quantum mechanics, quantum indeterminacy, quantum logic, classical logic, metaphysical indeterminacy
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Mr. Michael E. Miller
Date Deposited:	29 Mar 2026 12:59
Last Modified:	29 Mar 2026 12:59
Item ID:	28785
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	27 March 2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28785

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