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arXiv · 1206.0019

Predictions and Primitive Ontology in Quantum Foundations: A Study of Examples

Valia Allori·Sheldon Goldstein·Roderich Tumulka·Nino Zanghi
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Abstract

A major disagreement between different views about the foundations of quantum mechanics concerns whether for a theory to be intelligible as a fundamental physical theory it must involve a "primitive ontology" (PO), i.e., variables describing the distribution of matter in 4-dimensional space-time. In this paper, we illustrate the value of having a PO. We do so by focussing on the role that the PO plays for extracting predictions from a given theory and discuss valid and invalid derivations of predictions. To this end, we investigate a number of examples based on toy models built from the elements of familiar interpretations of quantum theory.

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Valia Allori, Sheldon Goldstein, Roderich Tumulka, Nino Zanghi. 2012-08-28. Predictions and Primitive Ontology in Quantum Foundations: A Study of Examples. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjps%2Faxs048

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