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Decoherence and Ontology

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Philosophers Look at Quantum Mechanics

Part of the book series: Synthese Library ((SYLI,volume 406))

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Abstract

This paper discusses the consequences of quantum mechanics for our understanding of physical reality, particularly regarding how classical concepts emerge from quantum laws; how common sense logic stands out as a special case of quantum logic applied to macroscopic objects; how causality and locality are found to be “provincial” consequences of quanta; how tiny probabilities that would seem to turn reality into an appearance are so small that unreality does not matter; how quantum theory agrees with everything observed, except for a uniqueness that (alas) is the very essence of reality.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A. Aspect et al. (1981).

  2. 2.

    J. S. Bell (1964).

  3. 3.

    J. Clarke et al. (1988).

  4. 4.

    G. Birkhoff and J. von Neumann (1936).

  5. 5.

    M. Gell-Mann and J. B. Hartle (1991).

  6. 6.

    K. Hepp (1974).

  7. 7.

    R. Omnès (1989, 1997a, b).

  8. 8.

    R. G. Griffiths (1984).

  9. 9.

    R. Omnès (1999).

  10. 10.

    W. H. Zurek (1982).

  11. 11.

    A. O. Caldeira and A. J. Leggett (1983).

  12. 12.

    E. Joos and H. D. Zeh (1985).

  13. 13.

    R. Omnès (1997a, b).

  14. 14.

    M. Brune et al. (1996).

  15. 15.

    R. Omnès (1999).

  16. 16.

    R. Omnès (1999).

  17. 17.

    R. Omnès (1999).

  18. 18.

    E. Borel (1937, 1941).

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Omnès, R. (2019). Decoherence and Ontology. In: Cordero, A. (eds) Philosophers Look at Quantum Mechanics. Synthese Library, vol 406. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15659-6_7

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