Non-locality and Possible World :A Counterfactual Perspective on Quantum Entanglement ( Epistemische Studien )

Publication subTitle :A Counterfactual Perspective on Quantum Entanglement

Publication series :Epistemische Studien

Author: Tomasz F. Bigaj  

Publisher: De Gruyter‎

Publication year: 2006

E-ISBN: 9783110323306

P-ISBN(Paperback): 9783110322866

Subject: O413.1 quantum mechanics (wave mechanics, matrix mechanics)

Language: ENG

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Description

This book uses the formal semantics of counterfactual conditionals to analyze the problem of non-locality in quantum mechanics. Counterfactual conditionals (subjunctive conditionals) enter the analysis of quantum entangled systems in that they enable us to precisely formulate the locality condition that purports to exclude the existence of causal interactions between spatially separated parts of a system. They also make it possible to speak consistently about alternative measuring settings, and to explicate what is meant by quantum property attributions. The book develops the possible-world semantics of quantum counterfactuals using David Lewis’s famous approach as a starting point but modifying it significantly in order to achieve compatibility with the demands of the special theory of relativity as well as quantum mechanics. There have been several attempts to use counterfactual semantics to strengthen Bell’s theorem and its cognates such as the GHZ and Hardy theorems. These are critically evaluated in the book. Finally, a counterfactual reconstruction of the EPR argument and Bell’s theorem is proposed that sheds a new light on their philosophical consequences regarding the relations between realism and local causation.

Chapter

Table of Contents

pp.:  5 – 8

INTRODUCTION

pp.:  8 – 22

Chapter 2POSSIBLE-WORLD SEMANTICS FORCOUNTERFACTUALS

pp.:  69 – 105

Chapter 3A COUNTERFACTUAL VERSION OFBELL’S THEOREM AND ITS CRITICISM

pp.:  105 – 141

Chapter 4THE GHZ AND HARDY THEOREMSCOUNTERFACTUALLYSTRENGTHENED—WHAT WENTWRONG?

pp.:  141 – 184

Chapter 5TWO INTERPRETATIONS OF SPATIOTEMPORALCOUNTERFACTUALS

pp.:  184 – 225

Chapter 6LOCALITY EXPLAINED AND THE EPRBELLTHEOREMS RECONSIDERED

pp.:  225 – 271

Chapter 7COMPARISONS AND CONCLUSIONS

pp.:  271 – 283

Bibliography

pp.:  283 – 291

Index

pp.:  291 – 296

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