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arXiv · 2004.14847

Extending the Agent in QBism

Jacques Pienaar
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Abstract

According to the subjective Bayesian interpretation of quantum mechanics (QBism), the instruments used to measure quantum systems are to be regarded as an extension of the senses of the agent who is using them, and quantum states describe the agent's expectations for what they will experience through these extended senses. How can QBism then account for the fact that (i) instruments must be calibrated before they can be used to `sense' anything; (ii) some instruments are more precise than others; (iii) more precise instruments can lead to discovery of new systems? Furthermore, is the agent `incoherent' if they prefer to use a less precise instrument? Here we provide answers to these questions.

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Jacques Pienaar. 2020-04-30. Extending the Agent in QBism. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-020-00375-z

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