Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics

Auteurs

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.51359/2357-9986.2022.248685

Mots-clés :

counterfactual definiteness, interaction-free measurements, counterfactuality, metaphysics, quantum mechanics

Résumé

In this essay, I'll present an example of counterfactual physical phenomena. More precisely, counterfactual definiteness and interaction-free measurements in quantum mechanics. The example used will be the Elitzur-Vaidman bomb testing experiment, which shows how we can probe the properties of objects, even when they have not been measured, i. e., counterfactual measurements. This type of physical phenomenon seems to operate by the same laws of causality as counterfactual reasoning in decision-making. After all, how can something that doesn't happen affect the real world? I suggest that some mathematical tools used in quantum mechanics may be of interest to those who wish to better model counterfactual possibilities in the decision process or philosophers interested in better understanding the metaphysical implications of quantum mechanics.

Biographie de l'auteur

Nicholas Kluge Corrêa, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), Programa de Pós-graduação em Filosofia

Corrêa, N. K. é doutorando em Filosofia pela PPGF-PUCRS, 2020 - Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS. Minha pesquisa gira em torno da ética da IA e do problema do alinhamento de valores. Atualmente filiado ao Programa de Pós-graduação em Filosofia da PUCRS.

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Publiée

2022-05-03

Numéro

Vol. 49 No 2 (2022): Epistemologia, Filosofia da Ciência e Naturalismo & Filósofas no Norte

Rubrique

Dossiê temático sobre Epistemologia, Filosofia da Ciência e Naturalismo

Licence

© Nicholas Kluge Corrêa 2022

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