Callender, Craig (2014) One World, One Beable. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Is the quantum state part of the furniture of the world? Einstein found such a position indigestible, but here I present an understanding of the wavefunction that is easy to stomach. First, I develop the idea that the wavefunction is nomological in nature, showing how the quantum It or Bit debate gets subsumed by the corresponding It or Bit debate about laws of nature. Second, I motivate the nomological view by casting quantum mechanics in a “classical” formalism (Hamilton–Jacobi theory) and classical mechanics in a “quantum” formalism (Koopman–von Neumann theory) and then comparing and contrasting classical and quantum wave functions. I argue that Humeans about laws can treat classical and quantum wave functions on a par and that doing so yields many benefits.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Callender, Craig ccallender@ucsd.edu
Keywords:	wavefunction; quantum mechanics; koopman; von neumann; hamilton-jacobi; laws of nature
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User:	Craig Callender
Date Deposited:	29 Oct 2014 15:08
Last Modified:	29 Oct 2014 15:08
Item ID:	11098
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date:	28 October 2014
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11098

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