Philosophy of Physics: Quantum Theory

Tim Maudlin

ISBN 10: 069118352X / ISBN 13: 9780691183527

Verlag: Princeton University Press, 2019

2019. Hardcover. . . . . . Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers V9780691183527

Inhaltsangabe:

A sophisticated and original introduction to the philosophy of quantum mechanics from one of the world’s leading philosophers of physics

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.

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor: Tim Maudlin is professor of philosophy at New York University. He is the author of Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time (Princeton), Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity: Metaphysical Intimations of Modern Physics, The Metaphysics within Physics, and Truth and Paradox.

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Philosophy of Physics: Quantum Theory
Verlag: Princeton University Press
Erscheinungsdatum: 2019
Einband: Hardcover
Zustand: New