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Propensities in quantum mechanics

Suárez, Mauricio (2006) Propensities in quantum mechanics. Discussion paper, Steuer, Max (ed.) (DP 80/06). Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, London, UK.

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Abstract

I review five explicit attempts throughout the history of quantum mechanics to invoke dispositional notions in order to solve the quantum paradoxes, namely: Margenau’s latencies, Heisenberg’s potentialities, Popper’s propensity interpretation of probability, Nick Maxwell’s propensitons, and the recent selective propensities interpretation of quantum mechanics. I raise difficulties and challenges for all of them, but conclude that the selective propensities approach nicely encompasses the virtues of its predecessors. I elaborate on some of the properties of the type of propensities that I claim to be successful for quantum mechanics, and finish by briefly sketching out ways in which similar notions can be read into some of the other well-known interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Item Type: Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL: http://www.lse.ac.uk/CPNSS/home.aspx
Additional Information: © 2006 The Author
Divisions: CPNSS
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Q Science > QC Physics
Date Deposited: 11 Mar 2011 10:38
Last Modified: 13 Sep 2024 20:01
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/33297

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