The Meaning of Elements of Reality and Quantum Counterfactuals: Reply to Kastner

This paper is an answer to the preceding paper by Kastner, in which she continued the criticism of the counterfactual usage of the Aharonov ± Bergman ± Lebowitz rule in the framework of the time-symmetrized quantum theory, in particular, by analyzing the three-box `̀ paradox .’ ’ It is argued that the criticism is not sound . Paradoxical features of the three-box example are discussed. It is explained that the elements of reality in the framework of time-symmetrized quantum theory are counterfactual statements, and therefore , even conflicting elements of reality can be associated with a single system. It is shown how such `̀ counterfactual ’’ elements of reality can be useful in the analysis of a physical experiment (the three-box example). The validity of Kastner’s application of the consistent histories approach to the time-symmetrized counterfactuals is questioned.