Relationalism vs. Substantivalism in Quantum Theory

CHRISTIAN DE RONDE

Kraków, Polonia.

Workshop; Science Foundation International Workshop: Branching Space-Times.; 2005

European Science Foundation

We study the conception of monadic and relational property within the framework of the modal interpretation of quantum mechanics ([3] and [2]). We analyze the perspectival version of the modal interpretation presented by Bene and Dieks [1] and study its possibilities and impossibilities in order to present a perspectivalist account of reality. Finally, we discuss the possibility of putting forward a relational interpretation of quantum mechanics ([5] and [4]). [1] Bene, G., Dieks, D., 2002, “A Perspectival Version of the Modal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics and the Origin of Macroscopic Behavior”, Foundations of Physics, 32, No5, May 2002, also in Los Alamos National Laboratory, quant-ph/0112134. [2] Dieks, D. and Vermaas, P., 1995, “The Modal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics and Its Generalization to Density Operators”, Foundations of Physics, 25, 145-158. [3] Kochen, S., 1985, “A New Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.” pp. 151-169 in P.Lathi and P. Mittelslaedt, (eds.), Symposium on the foundations of Modern Physics 1985, World Scientific, Johensuu. [4] Mermin, N.D., 1996, “The Ithaca Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics”, archive ref and link: quant-ph/9609013. [5] Rovelli, C., 1996, “Relational Quantum Mechanics”, archive ref and link: quant/ph 9609002.