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How Stands Collapse II

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Quantum Reality, Relativistic Causality, and Closing the Epistemic Circle

Part of the book series: The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science ((WONS,volume 73))

I review 10 problems associated with the dynamical wave function collapse program, which were described in the first of these two papers. Five of these, the interaction, preferred basis, trigger, symmetry and superluminal problems, were shown there to have been resolved. In this volume in honor of Abner Shimony, I discuss the five remaining problems, tails, conservation law, experimental, relativity, legitimization. Particular emphasis is given to the tails problem, first raised by Abner. The discussion of legitimization contains a new argument, that the energy density of the fluctuating field which causes collapse should exert a gravitational force. This force can be repulsive, since this energy density can be negative. Speculative illustrations of cosmological implications are offered.

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  1. Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, 13323, USA

    Philip Pearle

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Pearle, P. (2009). How Stands Collapse II. In: Quantum Reality, Relativistic Causality, and Closing the Epistemic Circle. The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science, vol 73. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9107-0_14

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