Abstract
It has long been recognized that a local hidden variable theory of quantum mechanics can in principle be constructed, provided one is willing to countenance pre-measurement correlations between the properties of measured systems and measuring devices. However, this 'conspiratorial' approach is typically dismissed out of hand. In this article I examine the justification for dismissing conspiracy theories of quantum mechanics. I consider the existing arguments against such theories, and find them to be less than conclusive. I suggest a more powerful argument against the leading strategy for constructing a conspiracy theory. Finally, I outline two alternative strategies for constructing conspiracy theories, both of which are immune to these arguments, but require one to either modify or reject the common cause principle.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 359-381 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | British Journal for the Philosophy of Science |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2006 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy
Cite this
Conspiracy theories of quantum mechanics. / Lewis, Peter.
In: British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 57, No. 2, 06.2006, p. 359-381.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Conspiracy theories of quantum mechanics
AU - Lewis, Peter
PY - 2006/6
Y1 - 2006/6
N2 - It has long been recognized that a local hidden variable theory of quantum mechanics can in principle be constructed, provided one is willing to countenance pre-measurement correlations between the properties of measured systems and measuring devices. However, this 'conspiratorial' approach is typically dismissed out of hand. In this article I examine the justification for dismissing conspiracy theories of quantum mechanics. I consider the existing arguments against such theories, and find them to be less than conclusive. I suggest a more powerful argument against the leading strategy for constructing a conspiracy theory. Finally, I outline two alternative strategies for constructing conspiracy theories, both of which are immune to these arguments, but require one to either modify or reject the common cause principle.
AB - It has long been recognized that a local hidden variable theory of quantum mechanics can in principle be constructed, provided one is willing to countenance pre-measurement correlations between the properties of measured systems and measuring devices. However, this 'conspiratorial' approach is typically dismissed out of hand. In this article I examine the justification for dismissing conspiracy theories of quantum mechanics. I consider the existing arguments against such theories, and find them to be less than conclusive. I suggest a more powerful argument against the leading strategy for constructing a conspiracy theory. Finally, I outline two alternative strategies for constructing conspiracy theories, both of which are immune to these arguments, but require one to either modify or reject the common cause principle.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33745463454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33745463454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/bjps/axl006
DO - 10.1093/bjps/axl006
M3 - Article
VL - 57
SP - 359
EP - 381
JO - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
JF - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
SN - 0007-0882
IS - 2
ER -