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Quantum mechanics, strong emergence and ontological non-reducibility

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Abstract

We show that a new interpretation of quantum mechanics, in which the notion of event is defined without reference to measurement or observers, allows to construct a quantum general ontology based on systems, states and events. Unlike the Copenhagen interpretation, it does not resort to elements of a classical ontology. The quantum ontology in turn allows us to recognize that a typical behavior of quantum systems exhibits strong emergence and ontological non-reducibility. Such phenomena are not exceptional but natural, and are rooted in the basic mathematical structure of quantum mechanics.

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Notes

  1. This not only applies to the Montevideo interpretation but may apply to other realist interpretations like the modal ones, although this has yet to be studied.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Rodolfo Gambini

  2. Departamento de Historia y Filosofía de la Ciencia, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Lucía Lewowicz

  3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Jorge Pullin

Authors
  1. Rodolfo Gambini
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  2. Lucía Lewowicz
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  3. Jorge Pullin
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Correspondence to Jorge Pullin.

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Gambini, R., Lewowicz, L. & Pullin, J. Quantum mechanics, strong emergence and ontological non-reducibility. Found Chem 17, 117–127 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-015-9224-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-015-9224-1

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