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When is a Statistical Theory Causal?

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Open Questions in Quantum Physics

Part of the book series: Fundamental Theories of Physics ((FTPH,volume 10))

Abstract

It is shown that Laplace defined the concept of causality rather than determinism, and that the former concept is compatible with, and indeed demands, a stochastic description of the interaction of a system with its environment. We examine a number of statistical physical theories, both classical and quantum, to see whether they conform with the Laplacian notion of causality. We conclude that all formulations of quantum theory, including those of Bohm and of Nelson, are acausal.

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© 1985 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Marshall, T.W. (1985). When is a Statistical Theory Causal?. In: Tarozzi, G., van der Merwe, A. (eds) Open Questions in Quantum Physics. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5245-4_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5245-4_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8816-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5245-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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