Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Funny business in branching space-times: infinite modal correlations

  • Published:
Synthese Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The theory of branching space-times is designed as a rigorous framework for modelling indeterminism in a relativistically sound way. In that framework there is room for “funny business”, i.e., modal correlations such as occur through quantum-mechanical entanglement. This paper extends previous work by Belnap on notions of “funny business”. We provide two generalized definitions of “funny business”. Combinatorial funny business can be characterized as “absence of prima facie consistent scenarios”, while explanatory funny business characterizes situations in which no localized explanation of inconsistency can be given. These two definitions of funny business are proved to be equivalent, and we provide an example that shows them to be strictly more general than the previously available definitions of “funny business”.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Belnap Nuel (1992). Branching space-time. Synthese 92, 385–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belnap Nuel (2002). EPR-like “funny business” in the theory of branching space-times. In Placek T., Butterfield J. (eds). Non-locality and modality. Dordrech, Kluwer, pp. 293–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Belnap Nuel (2003). No-common-cause EPR-like funny business in branching space-times. Philosophical Studies 114, 199–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belnap Nuel (2005). A theory of causation: causae causantes (originating causes) as inus conditions in branching space-times. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 56, 221–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bub Jeffrey (1997). Interpreting the quantum world. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Einstein Albert, Podolsky Boris, Rosen Nathan (1935). Can quantum-mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete?. Physical Review 47, 777–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberger Anton, Horn Mike, Zeilinger Anton (1989). Going beyond Bell’s theorem. In Kafatos M. (ed). Bell’s theorem, quantum theory, and conceptions of the Universe. Dordrecht, Kluwer, pp. 69–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller Thomas (2005). Probability and causation. A branching space-times analysis. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 56, 487–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner Matthew, Belnap Nuel (2006). How causal probabilities might fit into our objectively indeterministic world. Synthese 149, 1–36

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Philosophie, Lennéstr. 39, Universität Bonn, 53113, Bonn, Germany

    Thomas Müller

  2. Department of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh, 1001 Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA

    Nuel Belnap & Kohei Kishida

Authors
  1. Thomas Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nuel Belnap
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kohei Kishida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Müller.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Müller, T., Belnap, N. & Kishida, K. Funny business in branching space-times: infinite modal correlations. Synthese 164, 141–159 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-007-9220-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-007-9220-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation