Philosophy and Logic of Quantum Physics: An Investigation of the Metaphysical and Logical Implications of Quantum Physics (Philosophische Grundlagen der Wissenschaften und ihrer Anwendungen)

The book investigates the ontology and logic of quantum physics. The first part discusses the relationship of theory and observation and different views on the ontological status of scientific theories. It introduces the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and some of its interpretations and their compatibility with various ontological positions. In the second part, implications of quantum mechanics on classical logic, especially on the distributive law and bivalence, as discussed by Garrett Birkhoff & John von Neumann (1936) and Hilary Putnam (1968), and their counterarguments are reconstructed and discussed. It is concluded that classical logic is sufficient for dealing with quantum mechanical propositions. Title 3 Copyright 4 Acknowledgements 5 Contents 7 Joint Foreword 11 Part 1: Theory and Observation in Quantum Physics 13 1. Introduction 15 Part I. Theory and Observation 17 2. The Relationship between Theory and Observation 17 3. Classification of Terms and Sentences 22 3.1 Empirical Terms 22 3.1.1 Observational Terms and Ostensive Learnability 22 3.1.2 Empirical Disposition Terms 24 3.2 Theoretical Terms 24 3.2.1 Theoretical Terms in the Broad Sense 24 3.2.2 Theoretical Terms in the Narrow Sense 24 3.3 Classification of Statements 25 4. Theory (In-)dependence 26 4.1 Theory (In-)dependence of Observational Language 26 4.2 Theory (In-)dependence of Observation 28 4.3 Linguistic Relativism 30 5. Ontological Status of Scientific Theories 32 5.1 Realism and Antirealism 32 5.2 Kinds of (Anti-)Realism 34 5.2.1 Fundamental Positions 34 5.2.2 Advanced Positions 36 5.3 The Case against Solipsism 37 5.4 The Case against Metaphysical Realism 38 5.5 The Case against Radical Constructivism 39 5.6 The Case for and against Constructive Realism 39 5.6.1 Inference of the Best Explanation 39 5.6.2 Pessimistic Meta-Induction 40 5.6.3 Intertheoretical Correspondence 40 5.6.4 Justification of Abduction according to Schurz 41 5.6.5 The Logical Positivist Objection 42 5.7 Towards a Modern Radical Empiricism 44 5.7.1 The Independence of Theory 44 5.7.2 Observational Language as Ostensively Learnable Language 44 5.7.3 The Limited Theory-Ladeness of Observational Language 45 5.7.4 Literalness of Theories 45 Part II. Basics of Quantum Physics 47 6. The Classical Picture of the World 47 7. Experimental Basis of Quantum Physics 50 8. The Quantum Explanation 53 8.1 Wave-Particle Duality 54 8.2 Schrödinger Equation and Born Rule 55 8.3 Observables 56 8.4 Einstein-Podolski-Rosen Paradox and Quantum Entanglement 56 9. No-go Theorems 57 9.1 Bell’s Theorem 58 9.2 Kochen-Specker Theorem 58 10. Interpretations 61 10.1 Schrödinger’s cat 61 10.2 Subjectivist Interpretations 62 10.3 Objective-Collapse Interpretations 62 10.4 Modal Interpretations 63 10.5 Many-Worlds Interpretation 63 10.6 Hidden-Variable Interpretations 63 10.7 Operational Approach 64 Part III. Reflections on Quantum Physics 65 11. Theory and Observation in Quantum Physics 65 11.1 Observables and Observation 65 11.2 Theory or Interpretation? 66 11.3 Theory and Ontology 68 11.4 Structural Correspondences of Interpretations 69 12. Is Quantum Physics Acceptable? 69 12.1 Indeterminism 70 12.2 Value Definiteness 71 12.3 Measurement Problem 73 13. Ontology of Quantum Physics 74 13.1 Value Definiteness and Ontology 74 13.2 Interpretations and Ontology 76 13.2.1 Subjectivist Interpretations 76 13.2.2 Objective-Collapse Interpretations 77 13.2.3 Modal Interpretations 78 13.2.4 Many-Worlds Interpretation 78 13.2.5 Hidden-Variable Interpretations 79 13.2.6 Operational Approach 79 13.2.7 Interpretations and Ontological Parsimony 80 13.3 Literalness and the Challenge of Quantum Gravity 81 14. Conclusion 82 References 85 Part 2: Quantum Logic 91 Introduction 93 1. Fundamentals of Classical Logic and Quantum Mechanics 95 1.1 Peculiarities of Quantum Mechanics 95 1.2 Classical Logic 98 2. Quantum logic and the distributive law 103 2.1 Birkhoff and von Neumann’s argument 104 2.1.1 Popper’s criticism 106 2.1.2 Schurz’s criticism 108 2.2 Putnams’s argument 111 2.2.1 Dummett’s criticism 114 2.2.2 Stachel’s criticism 115 2.3 Conclusion on the distributive law 117 3. Meaning and bivalence in Putnam’s quantum logical system 119 3.1 Invariance of meaning 120 3.2 Bivalence 124 4. Conclusion 129 References 131 Joint Conclusion 133 Content: Cover Acknowledgements Contents Joint Foreword Part 1: Theory and Observation in Quantum Physics 1."Introduction Part I."Theory and Observation 2."The Relationship between Theory and Observation 3."Classification of Terms and Sentences 3.1"Empirical Terms 3.1.1"Observational Terms and Ostensive Learnability 3.1.2"Empirical Disposition Terms 3.2"Theoretical Terms 3.2.1"Theoretical Terms in the Broad Sense 3.2.2"Theoretical Terms in the Narrow Sense 3.3"Classification of Statements 4."Theory (In-)dependence 4.1"Theory (In-)dependence of Observational Language. 4.2"Theory (In-)dependence of Observation4.3"Linguistic Relativism 5."Ontological Status of Scientific Theories 5.1"Realism and Antirealism 5.2"Kinds of (Anti-)Realism 5.2.1"Fundamental Positions 5.2.2"Advanced Positions 5.3"The Case against Solipsism 5.4"The Case against Metaphysical Realism 5.5"The Case against Radical Constructivism 5.6"The Case for and against Constructive Realism 5.6.1"Inference of the Best Explanation 5.6.2"Pessimistic Meta-Induction 5.6.3"Intertheoretical Correspondence 5.6.4"Justification of Abduction according to Schurz. 5.6.5"The Logical Positivist Objection5.7"Towards a Modern Radical Empiricism 5.7.1"The Independence of Theory 5.7.2"Observational Language as Ostensively Learnable Language 5.7.3"The Limited Theory-Ladeness of Observational Language 5.7.4"Literalness of Theories Part II."Basics of Quantum Physics 6."The Classical Picture of the World 7."Experimental Basis of Quantum Physics 8."The Quantum Explanation 8.1"Wave-Particle Duality 8.2"Schrödinger Equation and Born Rule 8.3"Observables 8.4"Einstein-Podolski-Rosen Paradox and Quantum Entanglement 9."No-go Theorems 9.1"Bell's Theorem. 9.2"Kochen-Specker Theorem10."Interpretations 10.1"Schrödinger's cat 10.2"Subjectivist Interpretations 10.3"Objective-Collapse Interpretations 10.4"Modal Interpretations 10.5"Many-Worlds Interpretation 10.6"Hidden-Variable Interpretations 10.7"Operational Approach Part III."Reflections on Quantum Physics 11."Theory and Observation in Quantum Physics 11.1"Observables and Observation 11.2"Theory or Interpretation? 11.3"Theory and Ontology 11.4"Structural Correspondences of Interpretations 12."Is Quantum Physics Acceptable? 12.1"Indeterminism 12.2"Value Definiteness. 12.3"Measurement Problem13."Ontology of Quantum Physics 13.1"Value Definiteness and Ontology 13.2"Interpretations and Ontology 13.2.1"Subjectivist Interpretations 13.2.2"Objective-Collapse Interpretations 13.2.3"Modal Interpretations 13.2.4"Many-Worlds Interpretation 13.2.5"Hidden-Variable Interpretations 13.2.6"Operational Approach 13.2.7"Interpretations and Ontological Parsimony 13.3"Literalness and the Challenge of Quantum Gravity 14."Conclusion References Part 2: Quantum Logic Introduction 1."Fundamentals of Classical Logic and Quantum Mechanics. The book discusses philosophical and logical problems of quantum physics and its interpretations. Emphasis lies on the compatibility of quantum physics with classical logic and various ontological stances.