Abstract
The conceptual tension between the special theory of relativity and quantum mechanics is examined from the point of view of the ontological determinateness of events in Minkowski spacetime. While the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics requires an “open”, indeterminate future in which events have “fuzzy” attributes before measurement, special relativity has often been thought to require that the future lobes of light-cones at each point contain only fully determinate events. Recent attempts at introducing indeterminateness in Minkowski spacetime are discussed in light of the philosophical implications of experiments violating Bell’s inequalities.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aspect, A. et al. (1982). “Experimental test of Bell’s inequalities using time-varying analyzers”, Physical Review Letters, 49 pp. 1804–7.
Bell, J. (1964). “On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox,”Physics, 1 pp.195–200.
Born, M. (ed). (1969). Albert Einstein-Hedwig and Max Born. Briefwechsel, 1916–1955. Munich, Nymphenburger.
Butterfield, J. (1989). “A space-time approach to the Bell inequality”, in Cushing McMullin 1989, pp.114–144.
Capek, M. (1961). The philosophical impact of contemporary physics. Princeton, New Jersey.
Costa de Beauregard, O. (1966). “Time in relativity theory. Arguments for a philosophy of being”, in Fraser, J., Haber, F. and Müller (1972) (eds). The study of time. Berlin, Springer Verlag, pp.417–433.
Cushing, J. and McMullin, E. (1989). Philosophical Consequences of Quantum Theory. Notre Dame, Indiana, University of Notre Dame Press.
Einstein, A., Podolsky, B., Rosen, N. (1935). “Can quantum-mechanical description of reality be considered complete?”, Physical Review, Ser. 2, 47 pp.777–80.
Ghirardi, G.C., Rimini, A. and Weber, T. (1980). “A general argument against superluminal transmission through the quantum-mechanical measurement process.” Lettere al Nuovo Cimento, 27 pp.293–298.
Howard, D. (1989). “Holism and separability”, in Cushing e McMullin 1989, pp.224–53.
Kochen, S. and Specker, E.P. (1967). “The problem of hidden variables in quantum mechanics”, Journal of Mathematics and Mechanics, 17 pp.59–87.
Malament, D. (1977). “Causal Theories of Time and the Conventionality of Simultaneity”, Nous, 11 pp.293–300.
Maxwell, N. (1985). “Are Probabilism and Special Relativity Incompatible?”, Philosophy of Science, 52 pp.23–43.
Popper, K. (1982). Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics. London, Hutchinson.
Putnam, H. (1967). “Time and Physical geometry”, Journal of Philosophy, 64 pp.240–247.
Redhead, M. (1987). Incompleteness, Non-locality and Realism. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Rietdijk, C. (1966). “A rigorous proof of determinism derived from the special theory of relativity”, Philosophy of Science, 33 pp.341–344.
Robb, A. (1921). The absolute relations of time and space. Cambridge, Cambridge Unviersity Press.
Selleri, F. and Tarozzi, G. (1986). “Why quantum mechanics is incompatible with Einstein Locality”, Physics Letters A, 119 pp.101 -–9.
Shimony, A. (1984), “Controllable and uncontrollable non-locality”, in Kamefuchi et al., Foundations of Quantum Mechanics. New York, Wiley, pp.225-–230.
Sklar, L. (1985). Philosophy and Spacetime Physics. Berkeley, University of California Press.
Stein, H. (1968), “On Einstein-Minkowski spacetime”, Journal of Philosophy, 65 pp.5–23
(1991), “On relativity theory and the openness of the future”, Philosophy of Science, 58 pp.147–167.
Tarozzi, G. 1992a, Filosofia della microfisica. Vol. 1, Modena, Accademia Nazionale di Scienze, Lettere e Arti, Mucchi
(1992b) (a cura di). Il paradosso della realtà fisica. Modena, Accademia Nazionale di Scienze, Lettere e Arti, Mucchi.
Van Fraassen, B. (1991). Quantum Mechanics. An empiricist view. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dorato, M. (1995). Ontological Determinateness in Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity. In: Garola, C., Rossi, A. (eds) The Foundations of Quantum Mechanics — Historical Analysis and Open Questions. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 71. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0029-8_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0029-8_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4017-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0029-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive