Realism and instrumentalism about the wave function. How should we choose?

In Shao Gan (ed.), Protective Measurements and Quantum Reality: Toward a New Understanding of Quantum Mechanics. Cambridge University Press (2014)
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Abstract

The main claim of the paper is that one can be ‘realist’ (in some sense) about quantum mechanics without requiring any form of realism about the wave function. We begin by discussing various forms of realism about the wave function, namely Albert’s configuration-space realism, Dürr Zanghi and Goldstein’s nomological realism about Ψ, Esfeld’s dispositional reading of Ψ Pusey Barrett and Rudolph’s realism about the quantum state. By discussing the articulation of these four positions, and their interrelation, we conclude that instrumentalism about Ψ is by itself not sufficient to choose one over the other interpretations of quantum mechanics, thereby confirming in a different way the indetermination of the metaphysical interpretations of quantum mechanics. Key words:

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Author Profiles

Federico Laudisa
University of Milan Bicocca
Mauro Dorato
Università degli Studi Roma Tre

Citations of this work

Laws Are Not Descriptions.Federico Laudisa - 2015 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 29 (3):251-270.
On the Received Realist View of Quantum Mechanics.Nahuel Sznajderhaus - 2016 - Cadernos de História E Filosofia da Ciéncia.

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References found in this work

The metaphysics within physics.Tim Maudlin - 2007 - New York: Oxford University Press.
The Scientific Image.William Demopoulos & Bas C. van Fraassen - 1982 - Philosophical Review 91 (4):603.
Time and chance.David Z. Albert - 2000 - Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
The Scientific Image by Bas C. van Fraassen. [REVIEW]Michael Friedman - 1982 - Journal of Philosophy 79 (5):274-283.
The Empirical Stance.Bas C. van Fraassen - 2004 - New York: Yale University Press.

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