Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Realism and Wave-Particle Duality

  • Chapter
Book cover Realism and Anti-Realism in the Philosophy of Science

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 169))

  • 283 Accesses

Abstract

Quantum mechanics is a touchstone for realism: everyone claiming to be a realist faces the challenge of giving a realist interpretation of quantum mechanics. There are two features of quantum mechanics which trouble the realist: one is wave-particle duality, the other is quantum theory of measurement. This paper discusses wave-particle duality only. The extent to which the ideas put forward will highlight the measurement problem is discussed elsewhere.2

The ideas presented in this paper are part of my doctoral thesis Understanding Quantum Mechanics; a Realist Interpretation without Hidden Variables, Almquvist & Wiksell International, Stockholm, 1992.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. The ideas presented in this paper are part of my doctoral thesis Understanding Quantum Mechanics; a Realist Interpretation without Hidden Variables, Almquvist & Wiksell International, Stockholm, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Op. cit.

    Google Scholar 

  3. The concept of action was introduced by d’Alembert. It denotes the time integral of energyener ∫Edt.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cf. Bohr, N. (1934). Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 53.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cf. Cohen, L. (1973). ‘Joint Probability Distributions in Quantum Theory’, in C. A. Hooker (ed.), Contemporary Research in the Foundations and Philosophy of Quantum Theory, Reidel, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Friedman, M. (1974). ‘Explanation and Scientific Understanding’, J. Phil. 71, no. 1, January 17.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kitcher, Philip (1981). ‘Explanatory Unification’, Phil. Sci. 48, pp. 507–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. For an overview of this discussion see Jammer, M. (1974). The Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 31–33.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sklar, L. (1970). ‘Is Probability a Dispositional Property?’, J. Phil. 67(11), June 11, pp. 355–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, Stockholm University, Sweden

    Lars-Göran Johansson

Authors
  1. Lars-Göran Johansson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Boston University, USA

    Robert S. Cohen

  2. University of Turku, Finland

    Risto Hilpinen

  3. University of Miami, USA

    Risto Hilpinen

  4. Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, USA

    Qiu Renzong

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Johansson, LG. (1996). Realism and Wave-Particle Duality. In: Cohen, R.S., Hilpinen, R., Renzong, Q. (eds) Realism and Anti-Realism in the Philosophy of Science. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 169. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8638-2_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8638-2_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4493-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-8638-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation