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Continuity and Change: Charting David Bohm’s Evolving Ideas on Quantum Mechanics

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Brazilian Studies in Philosophy and History of Science

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 290))

Abstract

“It is too bad, very sad indeed, that he did not live to see how his reputation has shot up recently. His interpretation of quantum mechanics is becoming respected not only by philosophers of science but also by ‘straight’ physicists.” The words of the American physicist Melba Phillips, a long-standing friend of David Bohm (1917–1992), demonstrate yet another case of posthumous recognition in science. This paper intends to chart the evolution of Bohm’s ideas on the interpretation of quantum mechanics dealing with both the elements of continuity and change.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Melba Phillips to David Peat, 17 Oct 1994, David Bohm Papers, A22, Birkbeck College, London.

  2. 2.

    Basil Hiley Oral History, interviewed by O. Freire, 11 January 2008, American Institute of Physics.

  3. 3.

    Basil Hiley Oral History.

  4. 4.

    David Bohm to Melba Phillips [w/d – early 1950s], David Bohm Papers, C-46.

  5. 5.

    Personal communication to the author, 8 March 2009.

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Correspondence to Olival Freire Jr .

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Freire, O. (2011). Continuity and Change: Charting David Bohm’s Evolving Ideas on Quantum Mechanics. In: Krause, D., Videira, A. (eds) Brazilian Studies in Philosophy and History of Science. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 290. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9422-3_22

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