PIRSA:21050024

Ontic Structural Realism and Quantum Mechanics

Ladyman, J. (2021). Ontic Structural Realism and Quantum Mechanics . Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/21050024

Ladyman, James. Ontic Structural Realism and Quantum Mechanics . Perimeter Institute, May. 28, 2021, https://pirsa.org/21050024 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:21050024,
            doi = {10.48660/21050024},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/21050024},
            author = {Ladyman, James},
            keywords = {Quantum Foundations},
            language = {en},
            title = {Ontic Structural Realism and Quantum Mechanics },
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2021},
            month = {may},
            note = {PIRSA:21050024 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

James Ladyman University of Bristol

DOI 10.48660/21050024
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

Ontic structural realism is a form of scientific realism based on quantum mechanics in two ways:
(i) particles are not taken to be individual entities because they are not distinguishable; and, (ii) entanglement is taken to be relational structure that does not reduce to the state of parts and their causal interactions.

Furthermore, the idea of modal structure in OSR is exemplified by the way quantum mechanics sits between Bell-inequality violation and no-superluminal signalling. However, what should the advocate of OSR say about the measurement problem and decoherence? Wallace and Saunders combines OSR with Everettianism and argue that they need each other. Are Ladyman and Ross justified in their reluctance to agree with him?