Allori, Valia (2024) Hidden variables and Bell’s theorem: Local or not? THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 39 (2). pp. 143-163. ISSN 2171-679X

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Abstract

Bell’s inequality is an empirical constraint on theories with hidden variables, which Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen argued are needed to explain observed perfect correlations if keeping locality. One way to deal with the empirical violation of Bell’s inequality is by openly embracing nonlocality, in a theory like the pilot-wave theory. Nonetheless, recent proposals have revived the possibility that one can avoid nonlocality by resorting to superdeterministic theories. These are local hidden variables theories which violate statistical independence which is one assumption of Bell’s inequality. In this paper I compare and contrast these two hidden variable strategies: the pilot-wave theory and superdeterminism. I show that even if the former is nonlocal and the other is not, both are contextual. Nonetheless, in contrast with the pilot-wave theory, superdeterminist contextuality makes it impossible to test the theory (which therefore becomes unfalsifiable and unconfirmable) and renders the theory uninformative (measurement results tell us nothing about the system). It is questionable therefore whether a theory with these features is worth its costs.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Allori, Valia valia.allori@unibg.it 0000-0002-8144-8549
Additional Information:	ISSN: 0495-4548 (print)
Keywords:	pilot-wave theory, nonlocality, superdeterminism, contextuality
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Theory/Observation
Depositing User:	Unnamed user with email theoria@ehu.es
Date Deposited:	06 Jun 2025 12:25
Last Modified:	06 Jun 2025 12:25
Item ID:	25575
Journal or Publication Title:	THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science
Publisher:	Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea / Universidad del País Vasco
Official URL:	https://ojs.ehu.eus/index.php/THEORIA/article/view...
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1387/theoria.24617
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Theory/Observation
Date:	May 2024
Page Range:	pp. 143-163
Volume:	39
Number:	2
ISSN:	2171-679X
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25575

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