On Quantum Things: A Constructive Guide to the Fundamentals of Quantum Theory

(Hardback)

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A realist, particle-based view of quantum theorywhere the wavefunction no longer plays a central roleoffers a clear, commonsense alternative to dominant metaphysical views.

This book explores the metaphysics of quantum theory through a lens of scientific realismthe belief that successful scientific theories describe reality. It critically evaluates various interpretations, including structural realism, wave function realism, and the many-worlds view, highlighting their limitations. Valia Allori proposes a spatiotemporal foundational ontology approach, grounded in particles as fundamental entities evolving in three-dimensional space and time, following uniform, symmetric laws. This view is exemplified by Bohmian mechanics (pilot-wave theory), offering a constructive, commonsensical explanation of quantum phenomena. The wave function, in this framework, is not a physical object but plays a functional, law-like role in explaining interactions. Further, the book advances a radical thesis: fundamental particles lack intrinsic properties like mass or charge and are instead bare objects distinguished only by the laws governing them. This thesis allows a middle path between traditional object-based metaphysics and eliminative structuralism. Ultimately, the author argues that had physics developed more rationally, instead of following a historical path shaped by contingent choices, the pilot-wave theory might have been the dominant interpretation, minimizing the proliferation of speculative alternatives.

Author Bio

Valia Allori is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Bergamo, Italy.