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Relationalism versus realism: a dilemma for relational quantum mechanics

Jacobs, Caspar and Read, James (2025) Relationalism versus realism: a dilemma for relational quantum mechanics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Are absolute representations of reality---i.e., representations of reality from no particular point view---possible? Moore (1997) has offered abstract arguments for the following answer to this question: 'yes, invariably'. But there are questions regarding whether (and how) this conclusion can be compatible with modern physics, where absolute representations often seem hard to come by. These questions were taken up by Jacobs & Read (2025) in the context of classical spacetime physics; here, we turn our attention to quantum mechanics. In particular, when the arguments of Moore (1997) are brought into contact with the 'relational quantum mechanics' of Rovelli (1996) and collaborators, one finds that the latter is unstable: either it is not relational view, or it is not a realist view.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Jacobs, Casparc.a.jacobs@phil.leidenuniv.nl0000-0001-6903-0468
Read, Jamesjames.read@philosophy.ox.ac.uk
Keywords: relational quantum mechanics; realism; absolute representations; perspectivalism
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Dr. James Read
Date Deposited: 07 Aug 2025 15:26
Last Modified: 07 Aug 2025 15:26
Item ID: 26155
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 7 August 2025
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26155

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