World in the Wave Function - A Metaphysics for Quantum Physics

How do quantum theories force us to revise our picture of the fundamental nature of reality? This book outlines a range of ways to address the fundamental weirdness of quantum mechanics, from holism and nonlocality to higher dimensions. Alyssa Ney defends one approach to answering this question, based on an early suggestion of Schrodinger - to take the quantum wave function as a real field that ultimately constitutes the rest of our reality.

List 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

About the author

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.

Product details

• Authors: Alyssa Ney, Alyssa (Professor of Philosophy Ney, Ney Alyssa
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 26.08.2021
• EAN: 9780190097714
• ISBN: 978-0-19-009771-4
• No. of pages: 288
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Mechanics, acoustics; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; SCIENCE / Waves & Wave Mechanics, Wave mechanics (vibration & acoustics), Wave mechanics (vibration and acoustics)