Critique of Putnam's quantum logic
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Critique of Putnam's quantum logic
zbMATH Open document ID: 0799.03073
DOI: 10.1007/BF00979504
author: Guido Bacciagaluppi
published in: International Journal of Theoretical Physics
publication date: 1994-11-24T00:00:00Z
review text: This paper concerns Putnam's account of quantum descriptions as contextual interpretations of the underlying quantum structure, and in particular the claim that these descriptions are themselves ``classical'' descriptions, allowing the realist ontology and realist interpretation of measurement, being based as they are on a partial Boolean algebra of truth-value assignments. The author's central argument is that while the notion of measurement ``revealing'' particular real truth-values can be sustained perhaps in the case of single measurements, where a series of measurements is considered the usual issues of ``non-locality'' or ``measurement disturbance'' arises. In particular the case of measuring a single observable repeatedly causes trouble -- e.g. where we suppose the spin of a particle in the \(x\)-direction is first measured, then the spin in the \(y\)-direction, and lastly the \(x\)-direction spin again. The analysis of such measurements ``revealing'' real values within an observable- dependent context is clearly troublesome in that it does not explain why the two \(x\)-measurements do not generally coincide. Lastly, there is some discussion of why arguments in terms of ``weak measurement'' do not resolve the situation. This paper is elegant and easily read by those unfamiliar with Putnam's work. While not in a position to judge how true it is to Putnam's argument, it certainly presents important issues in an elegant way.
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 03G12
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 81P10
zbMATH DE Number: 575485
zbMATH Keywords: partial truth valuation
zbMATH Keywords: quantum descriptions
zbMATH Keywords: contextual interpretations
zbMATH Keywords: measurement
MaRDI profile type: Publication
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description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 575485