Realism and Objectivism in Quantum Mechanics

Realism and Objectivism in Quantum Mechanics

The present study attempts to provide a consistent and coherent account of what the world could be like, given the conceptual framework and results of contemporary quantum theory. It is suggested that standard quantum mechanics can, and indeed should, be understood as a realist theory within its domain of application. It is pointed out, however, that a viable realist interpretation of quantum t...

On Realism and Quantum Mechanics

After the definition of a ‘tempered realism’ which rejects a priori ontological propositions, it is shown that basic statements belonging to ‘orthodox’ interpretations of Quantum Mechanics, are realist in a stronger sense because they insert ontological statements like those about the existence of the ‘superposition’ state or of the ‘entangled’ state in the postulates of the theory. A discussio...

Realism and Time Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics

We describe a gedanken experiment with an interferometer in the case of preand postselection in two different time symmetric ways: We apply the ABL formalism and the de Broglie–Bohm model. Interpreting these descriptions ontologically, we get two very different concepts of reality. Finally, we discuss some problems implied by these concepts.

Whitehead, Quantum Mechanics and Local Realism

Ontic structural realism and the interpretation of quantum mechanics

This paper argues that ontic structural realism (OSR) faces a dilemma: either it remains on the general level of realism with respect to the structure of a given theory, but then it is, like epistemic structural realism, only a partial realism; or it is a complete realism, but then it has to answer the question how the structure of a given theory is implemented, instantiated or realized and thu...