Philosophy of Physics - Quantum Theory

In this book, Tim Maudlin, one of the world's leading philosophers of physics, offers a sophisticated, original introduction to the philosophy of quantum mechanics. The briefest, clearest, and most refined account of his influential approach to the subject, the book will be invaluable to all students of philosophy and physics. Quantum mechanics holds a unique place in the history of physics. It has produced the most accurate predictions of any scientific theory, but, more astonishing, there has never been any agreement about what the theory implies about physical reality. Maudlin argues that the very term "quantum theory" is a misnomer. A proper physical theory should clearly describe what is there and what it does--yet standard textbooks present quantum mechanics as a predictive recipe in search of a physical theory. In contrast, Maudlin explores three proper theories that recover the quantum predictions: the indeterministic wavefunction collapse theory of Ghirardi, Rimini, and Weber; the deterministic particle theory of deBroglie and Bohm; and the conceptually challenging Many Worlds theory of Everett. Each offers a radically different proposal for the nature of physical reality, but Maudlin shows that none of them are what they are generally taken to be.

About the author

Tim Maudlin

Summary

A sophisticated and original introduction to the philosophy of quantum mechanics from one of the world's leading philosophers of physicsIn this book, Tim Maudlin, one of the world's leading philosophers of physics, offers a sophisticated, original introduction to the philosophy of quantum mechanics. The briefest, clearest, and most refined acco

Additional text

"The book is a must for the serious reader of both philosophy and Physics."---P. R. S. Carvalho, Zentralblatt MATH

Product details

• Authors: Tim Maudlin, Maudlin Tim, Scott (EDT)/ Maudlin Soames
• Assisted by: Scott Soames (Editor)
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 19.03.2019
• EAN: 9780691183527
• ISBN: 978-0-691-18352-7
• No. of pages: 256
• Dimensions: 147 mm x 225 mm x 20 mm
• Series: Princeton Foundations of Conte; Princeton Foundations of Contemporary Philosophy
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / General, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, PHILOSOPHY / Metaphysics, SCIENCE / Physics / Quantum Theory, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology, Philosophical traditions and schools of thought, Quantum physics (quantum mechanics & quantum field theory), Quantum physics (quantum mechanics and quantum field theory), History of Western philosophy