Scientific Realism and the Quantum

by Steven French (Editor), Juha Saatsi (Editor)

Quantum theory is widely regarded as one of the most successful theories in the history of science. It explains a hugely diverse array of phenomena and is a natural candidate for our best representation of the world at the level of 'fundamental' physics. But how can the world be the way quantum theory says it is? It is famously unclear what the world is like according to quantum physics, which presents a serious problem for the scientific realist who is committed to regarding our best theories as more or less true. The present volume canvasses a variety of responses to this problem, from restricting or revising realism in different ways to exploring entirely new directions in the lively debate surrounding realist interpretations of quantum physics. Some urge us to focus on new formulations of the theory itself, while others examine the status of scientific realism in the further context of quantum field theory. Each chapter is written by a renowned specialist in the field and is
aimed at graduate students and researchers in both physics and the philosophy of science. Together they offer a range of illuminating new perspectives on this fundamental debate and exemplify the fruitful interaction between physics and philosophy.

Genres: Philosophy, Science

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 27, 2020

About the author

Research Interests:
- Philosophy of Science, especially models and the semantic approach, representation and structural realism
- Philosophy of Physics, especially the metaphysical foundations of quantum mechanics
- History of Physics, especially twentieth century

Steve French is Professor of the Philosophy of Science and his teaching and research interests are in the philosophy of science and the history and philosophy of modern physics. He has recently published a book on structural realism (The Structure of the World: Metaphysics and Representation; OUP 2014) and is currently working on a series of papers on monism, dispositionalism and the relationship between science and metaphysics in general. He is also planning to explore further the connections between the philosophy of art and the philosophy of science with regard to the nature of scientific and artistic objects. At some point he is going to stun the world (or not) with a book on Husserl and the phenomenological approach to quantum mechanics.

Steven is Co-Editor-in-Chief (with Michela Massimi of the University of Edinburgh) of The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (http://bjps.oxfordjournals.org/), one of the most highly regarded journals in the field. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Palgrave-Macmillan series, New Directions in Philosophy of Science (www.palgrave.com/products/series.aspx...).