The World in the Wave Function A Metaphysics for Quantum Physics

by Ney, Alyssa

• ISBN13: 9780190097714
• ISBN10: 019009771X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2021-04-16
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Author Biography

Alyssa Ney is Professor of Philosophy at UC Davis where her research has focused primarily on questions at the intersection of metaphysics, the philosophy of physics, and the philosophy of mind. She holds degrees in both physics and philosophy and is past-President of the Society for the Metaphysics of Science.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: A Preliminary Case for Wave Function Realism
1.1 Wave Function Representations in Quantum Mechanics
1.2 The Measurement Problem
1.3 Orthodox Quantum Mechanics
1.4 Quantum Mechanics Without Measurement
1.5 Wave Function Realism
1.6 A Higher-Dimensional Reality

Chapter 2: The Argument from Entanglement
2.1 Entanglement as the Characteristic Feature of Quantum Theories
2.2 The Necessity of Wave Function Realism
2.3 Rivals: The Primitive Ontology Approach
2.4 Rivals: Holisms
2.5 Rivals: Ontic Structural Realism
2.6 Rivals: Spacetime State Realism
2.7 Rivals: The Multi-field Approach
2.8 The Contingency of Wave Function Realism

Chapter 3: The Virtues of Separability and Locality
3.1 The Case for Wave Function Realism
3.2 Separability
3.3 Separability and Wave Function Realism
3.4 A Challenge
3.5 Concepts of Locality
3.6 Quantum Nonlocality
3.7 Locality and Wave Function Realism
3.8 Avoiding Nonlocality with Nonseparability
3.9 Motivating a Local Metaphysics
3.10 In Defense of Intuitions

Chapter 4: Wave Function Realism in a Relativistic Setting
4.1 Removing Idealization
4.2 Five Critiques
4.3 Wave Function Realism for Relativistic Quantum Theories
4.4 Interpretations and Interpretational Frameworks
4.5 Response to Objections
4.6 Wave Function Realism in the Limit of Physical Theorizing

Chapter 5: Must an Ontology for Quantum Theories Contain Local Beables?
5.1 The Constitution Objection
5.2 Doing Without Macroscopic Objects
5.3 The Threat of Empirical Incoherence
5.4 Primitive Ontologies and Local Beables
5.5 Perception and the Macroscopic

Chapter 6: The Causal Role of Macroscopic Objects
6.1 The Macro-Object Problem
6.2 An Initial Proposal
6.3 Monton's Challenge
6.4 Albert's Proposal
6.5 Against Functionalism
6.6 The Decoherence Strategy
6.7 From Simulation to Constitution

Chapter 7: A Solution to the Macro-Object Problem
7.1 A Constitutive Explanation in Two Stages
7.2 The Role of Grounding
7.3 Recovering Three Dimensionality via Symmetry Considerations: Answering Monton's Challenge
7.4 Part and Wholes
7.5 Partial Instantiation
7.6 Tables and Chairs and the Rest
7.7 Finding the World in the Wave Function

Postscript: An Incredulous Stare

References