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01:02Equations of Wave Motion
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01:29Position Vectors
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Wavefunction realism does not 'privilege position'.
1Department of Philosophy, University of Geneva, Rue de Candolle 2, 1211 Genèva 4, Switzerland.
Synthese
|March 7, 2022
Summary
Wavefunction realism does not arbitrarily privilege position. Different representations of the wavefunction represent the same physical reality, differing only in non-essential ways.
Area of Science:
- Quantum mechanics
- Philosophy of physics
Background:
- Wavefunction realism is often criticized for 'privileging position'.
- This criticism stems from the belief that it arbitrarily selects the position representation among infinite possibilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate that wavefunction realism does not arbitrarily privilege position.
- To reframe wavefunction realism as a role-based thesis.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of wavefunction representations.
- Argumentation based on haecceitistic differences.
Main Results:
- Different wavefunction representations lead to distinct versions of wavefunction realism.
- These differences are merely haecceitistic, not fundamental.
Conclusions:
- Wavefunction realism does not arbitrarily privilege position.
- The view should be understood as a role-based thesis, independent of specific representations.