A Philosopher's Understanding of Quantum Mechanics: Possibilities and Impossibilities of a Modal Interpretation

by Pieter E. Vermaas

Overview

Modal interpretations provide a general framework within which quantum mechanics can be considered as a theory that describes reality in terms of physical systems possessing definite properties. Modal interpretations are relatively new attempts to present quantum mechanics as a theory which, like other physical theories, describes an observer-independent reality. In this book, Pieter Vermaas details the results of this work. He provides both an accessible survey and a systematic reference work about how to understand quantum mechanics using a modal interpretation. The book will be of great value to undergraduates, graduate students and researchers in philosophy of science and physics departments with an interest in learning about modal interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521651080
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/28/2000
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Quantum mechanics; 3. Modal interpretations; Part I. Formalism: 4. The different versions; 5. The full property ascription; 6. Joint property ascriptions; 7. Discontinuities, instabilities and other bad behaviour; 8. Transition probabilities; 9. Dynamical autonomy and locality; Part II. Physics: 10. The measurement problem; 11. The Born rule; Part III. Philosophy: 12. Properties, states, measurement outcomes and effective states; 13. Holism versus reductionism; 14. Possibilities and impossibilities; 15. Conclusions.

Editorial Reviews

"In my view this work will turn out to be a milestone in the project, now already 30 years old, of modal interpretations." Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

From the Publisher