The origin of the Everettian heresy

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

Volumn 40, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 97-123

  Osnaghi, Stefano ^a   Freitas, Fábio ^b   Freire Jr , Olival ^c  

^a Centre de Recherche en Epistemologie Appliquee Ecole Polytechnique   (France)

^b DEPARTAMENTO DE CIÊNCIAS BIOLÓGICAS   (Brazil)

^c FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF BAHIA   (Brazil)

Author keywords

"relative state" formulation of quantum mechanics; Bohr; Copenhagen interpretation; Everett; Measurement problem

Indexed keywords

EID: 67349182376     PISSN: 13552198     EISSN: 18792502     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsb.2008.10.002     Document Type: Article

References (118)

1. In: André G. (Ed). Louis de Broglie: Physicien et penseur (1953), Albin Michel, Paris
2. Assmus A. The Americanization of molecular physics. Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences 23 1 (1992) 1-34
3. Barrett J.A. The quantum mechanics of minds and worlds (1999), Oxford University Press, Oxford
4. Becker L. That von Neumann did not believe in a physical collapse. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 55 1 (2004) 121-135
5. Bell J.S. Speakable and unspeakable in quantum mechanics (2004), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
6. Beller M. Quantum dialogue: The making of a revolution (1999), University of Chicago Press, Chicago
7. Beller M. Jocular commemorations: The Copenhagen Spirit. OSIRIS, 2nd series 14 (1999) 252-273
8. Ben-Dov Y. Everett's theory and the "many-worlds" interpretation. American Journal of Physics 58 9 (1990) 829-832
9. Bitbol M. Schrödinger's philosophy of quantum mechanics. Boston studies in the philosophy of science (1996), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
10. Bitbol M. Mécanique quantique. Une introduction philosophique (1996), Flammarion, Paris
11. Bitbol M. L'aveuglante proximité du réel, anti-réalisme & quasi-réalisme en physique (1998), Flammarion, Paris
12. Bitbol M. Physique et philosophie de l'esprit (2000), Flammarion, Paris
13. Bohm D. Quantum theory (1951), Prentice-Hall, New York
14. Bohm D. A suggested interpretation of the quantum theory in terms of "hidden" variables-I and II. Physical Review 85 2 (1952) 166-179 180-193
15. Bohr N. Causality and complementarity. Philosophy of Science 4 (1937) 289-298 (Reprinted in: N. Bohr, Causality and complementarity: Supplementary papers. The philosophical writings of Niels Bohr, Vol. 4 (pp. 83-91). Edited by J. Faye & H. Folse. Wooldbridge (CT): Ox Bow Press, 1998. Page numbers refer to the reprint.)
16. Bohr N. The causality problem in atomic physics. The new theories of physics (1939), International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation, Paris 11-45 (Reprinted in: N. Bohr (Ed.), Causality and complementarity: Supplementary papers. The philosophical writings of Niels Bohr, Vol. 4 (pp. 94-121). Edited by J. Faye & H. Folse. Wooldbridge (CT): Ox Bow Press, 1998. Page numbers refer to the reprint.)
17. Bohr N. On the notions of causality and complementarity. Dialectica 2 (1948) 312-319
18. Bohr N. Discussion with Einstein on epistemological problems in atomic physics. In: Schilpp P.A. (Ed). Albert Einstein-Philosopher-Scientist (1949), The Library of the Living Philosophers, Evanston 199-242
19. Bohr N. Essays 1958-1962 on atomic physics and human knowledge (1963), Interscience Publishers, New York
20. Bohr N. Causality and complementarity: Supplementary papers. In: Faye J., and Folse H. (Eds). The philosophical writings of Niels Bohr Vol. 4 (1998), Ox Bow Press, Wooldbridge (CT)
21. Born M. The interpretation of quantum mechanics. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 4 (1953) 95-106
22. Brush S.G. The chimerical cat: Philosophy of quantum mechanics in historical perspective. Social Studies of Science 10 4 (1980) 393-447
23. Butterfield J.N. Some worlds of quantum theory. In: Russell R., Polkinghorne J., et al. (Eds). Quantum Mechanics. Scientific Perspectives on Divine Action Vol. 5 (2002), Vatican Observatory Publications, Vatican City 111-140
24. Byrne P. The many worlds of Hugh Everett. Scientific American, December 2007 (2007) 98-105
25. Camilleri, K. (2008). Constructing the myth of the Copenhagen interpretation. Perspectives on Science, to appear.
26. Cartwright N. Philosophical problems of quantum theory: The response of American physicists. In: Krüger L., Gigerenzer G., and Morgan M.S. (Eds). The probabilistic revolution Vol. 2 (1987), MIT Press, Cambridge, MA 407-435
27. Cassinello A. La interpretación de los muchos universos de la mecánica cuántica. Apuntes históricos. Arbor, Revista de Ciencia, Pensamiento y Cultura 148 584 (1994) 47-68
28. Chevalley C. Niels Bohr's and the Atlantis of Kantianism. In: Faye J., and Folse H. (Eds). Niels Bohr and contemporary philosophy. Boston studies in the philosophy of science (1994), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 33-55
29. Chevalley C. Mythe et philosophie: la construction de "Niels Bohr" dans la doxographie. Physis, Rivista Internazionale di Storia della Scienza 34 3 (1997) 569-603
30. Chevalley C. Why do we find Bohr obscure?. In: Greenberger D., Reiter W.L., and Zeilinger A. (Eds). Epistemological and experimental perspectives on quantum mechanics (1999), Springer, Dordrecht 59-73
31. Daneri A., Loinger A., and Prosperi G.M. Quantum theory of measurement and ergodicity conditions. Nuclear physics 33 (1962) 297-319 (Reprinted in: J. A. Wheeler & W. H. Zurek (Eds.), Quantum theory and measurement (pp. 657-679). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983.)
32. DeWitt B.S. Quantum theory of gravity. I. The canonical theory. Physical Review 160 (1967) 1113-1148
33. DeWitt B.S. The Everett-Wheeler interpretation of quantum mechanics. In: DeWitt C.M., and Wheeler J.A. (Eds). Battelle rencontres 1967. Lectures in mathematics and physics (1968), W.A. Benjamin Inc, New York 318-332
34. DeWitt B.S. Quantum mechanics and reality. Physics Today 23 9 (1970) 155-165
35. DeWitt B.S., and Graham N. The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics (1973), Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ
36. Dicke R.H., and Wittke J.P. Introduction to quantum mechanics (1960), Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA
37. Dirac P.A.M. The principles of quantum mechanics. 4th ed. (1958), Clarendon Press, Oxford
38. Everett III, H. (1955a). Objective vs subjective probability. EP (Box 1, Folder 6).
39. Everett III, H. (1955b). Quantitative measure of correlation. EP (Box 1, Folder 6).
40. Everett III, H. (1955c). Probability in wave mechanics. EP (Box 1, Folder 6).
41. Everett III, H. (1956). Wave mechanics without probability [?]. EP (Box 1, Series II, Folder 1).
42. Everett III, H. (1957a). On the foundations of quantum mechanics. Ph.D. thesis, Princeton University.
43. Everett III H. "'Relative State' formulation of quantum mechanics". Review of Modern Physics 29 (1957) 454-462 (Reprinted in: J. A. Wheeler & W. H. Zurek (Eds.), Quantum theory and measurement (pp. 315-323). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983. Page numbers refer to the reprint.)
44. Everett III H. The theory of the universal wave function. In: DeWitt B.S., and Graham N. (Eds). The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics (1973), Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ 3-140
45. Faye J. Niels Bohr, his heritage and legacy. An anti-realist view of quantum mechanics (1991), Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht
46. Faye, J. (2002). Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (summer 2002 edition). Available online: 〈http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2002/entries/qm-copenhagen/〉.
47. Feyerabend P. Problems of microphysics. In: Colodny R.G. (Ed). Frontiers of Science and Philosophy (1964), George Allen and Unwin, London 189-283
48. Forman P. Weimar culture, causality, and quantum theory, 1918-1927: Adaptation by german physicists and mathematicians to a hostile intellectual environment. Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences 3 (1971) 1-115
49. Forstner C. The early history of David Bohm's quantum mechanics through the perspective of Ludwik Fleck's thought-collectives. Minerva 46 (2008) 215-229
50. Freire Jr. O. Quantum controversy and marxism. Historia Scientiarum 7 2 (1997) 137-152
51. Freire Jr. O. The historical roots of "foundations of quantum mechanics" as a field of research (1950-1970). Foundations of Physics 34 11 (2004) 1741-1760
52. Freire Jr. O. Science and exile: David Bohm, the cold war, and a new interpretation of quantum mechanics. Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences 36 1 (2005) 1-34
53. Freire Jr. O. Orthodoxy and heterodoxy in the research on the foundations of quantum physics: E. P. Wigner's case. In: Santos B.S. (Ed). Cognitive justice in a global world: Prudent knowledge for a decent life (2007), Lexington Books, Lanham, MD 203-224
54. In: French A.P., and Kennedy P.J. (Eds). Niels Bohr: A centenary volume (1985), Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
55. Graham L. The Soviet reaction to Bohr's quantum mechanics. In: Feshbach H., Matsui T., and Oleson A. (Eds). Niels Bohr and the world: Proceedings of the Niels Bohr centennial symposium (1988), Harwood academic publications, New York 305-317
56. Heilbron J. The earliest missionaries of the Copenhagen spirit. In: Galison P., Gordin M., and Kaiser D. (Eds). Science and society-The history of modern physical science in the twentieth century Vol. 4 (2001), Routledge, New York 295-330
57. Heisenberg W. The development of the interpretation of the quantum theory. In: Pauli W. (Ed). Niels Bohr and the development of physics (1955), Pergamon Press, London 12-29
58. Home D., and Whitaker M.A.B. Ensemble interpretations of quantum mechanics. A modern perspective. Phsyics Reports 71 (1992) 223-317
59. Honner J. The description of nature: Niels Bohr and the philosophy of quantum physics (1987), Clarendon Press, Oxford
60. Hooker C.A. Projection, physical intelligibility, objectivity and completeness: The divergent ideals of Bohr and Einstein. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 42 4 (1991) 491-511
61. Howard D. Einstein on locality and separability. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 16 (1985) 171-201
62. Howard D. Who invented the "Copenhagen interpretation"? A study in mythology. Philosophy of Science 71 (2004) 669-682
63. Institut International de Physique Solvay. Électrons et photons-Rapports et discussions du Cinquième Conseil de Physique tenu à Bruxelles du 24 au 29 octobre 1927 (1928), Gauthier-Villars, Paris
64. Jacobsen A. Léon Rosenfeld's Marxist defense of complementarity. Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences 37 Supplement (2007) 3-34
65. Jammer M. The conceptual development of quantum mechanics (1966), McGraw-Hill, New York
66. Jammer M. The philosophy of quantum mechanics-The interpretations of quantum mechanics in historical perspective (1974), Wiley, New York
67. Kaiser D. More roots of complementarity: Kantian aspects and influences. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 23 (1992) 213-239
68. Kaiser D. Cold War requisitions, scientific manpower, and the production of American physicists after World War II. Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences 33 1 (2002) 131-159
69. Kent A. Against many-world interpretation. International Journal of Modern Physics A5 (1990) 1745-1762. http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9703089 An updated version is available online: 〈http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9703089〉
70. In: Körner S. (Ed). Observation and interpretation: A symposium of philosophers and scientists (1957), Butterworth, London
71. Kragh H. Quantum generations-A history of physics in the twentieth century (1999), Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ
72. Kuhn T.S. The structure of the scientific revolutions. 2nd ed. (1970), University of Chicago Press, Chicago
73. Lakatos, I., & Feyerabend, P. K. (1999). In M. Motterlini (Ed.), For and against method, including Lakatos's lectures on scientific method, and the Lakatos-Feyerabend correspondence. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
74. London F., and Bauer E. La théorie de l'observation en mécanique quantique (1939), Hermann, Paris
75. Margenau H. Advantages and disadvantages of various interpretations of the quantum theory. Physics Today 7 10 (1954) 6-13
76. Margenau H. Philosophical problems concerning the meaning of measurement in physics. Philosophy of Science 25 (1958) 23-33
77. Margenau H. Measurement and quantum states-I. Philosophy of Science 30 (1963) 1-16
78. Mehra J., and Rechenberg H. The historical development of quantum theory Vol. 6 (Part 2) (2001), Springer, New York
79. Murdoch D. Niels Bohr's philosophy of physics (1987), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
80. Olwell R. Physical isolation and marginalization in physics-David Bohm's Cold War exile. Isis 90 (1999) 738-756
81. Omnès R. Consistent interpretations of quantum mechanics. Reviews of Modern Physics 64 2 (1992) 339-382
82. Paty M. The Nature of Einstein's Objections to the Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. Foundations of Physics 25 (1995) 183-204
83. Pauli W. Niels Bohr and the development of physics (1955), Pergamon Press, London
84. Pauli, W. (1994). Writings on physics and philosophy. In C. P. Enz & K. von Meyenn (Eds.), translated by R. Schlapp. New York: Springer.
85. Petersen A. Quantum physics and the philosophical tradition (1968), MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
86. Petersen A. The philosophy of Niels Bohr. In: French A.P., and Kennedy P.J. (Eds). Niels Bohr, a centenary volume (1985), Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA 299-310
87. In: Rédei M., and Stöltzner M. (Eds). John von Neumann and the foundations of quantum physics (2001), Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht
88. Rosenfeld L. The measuring process in quantum mechanics. Supplement of the Progress of Theoretical Physics 1965 (1965) 222-231
89. Rovelli C. Relational quantum mechanics. International Journal of Theoretical Physics 35 (1996) 1637-1678
90. In: Rozental S. (Ed). Niels Bohr. His life and work as seen from his friends and colleagues (1967), North-Holland, Amsterdam
91. Scheibe E. The logical analysis of quantum mechanics (1973), Pergamon Press, Oxford
92. In: Schilpp P.A. (Ed). Albert Einstein-Philosopher-Scientist (1949), The Library of the Living Philosophers, Evanston
93. Schrödinger E. Are there quantum jumps?-I and II. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 3 (1952) 109-123 233-242
94. Schrödinger E. The meaning of wave mechanics. In: André G. (Ed). Louis de Broglie: physicien et penseur (1953), Albin Michel, Paris 1-32
95. Schrödinger E. Might perhaps energy be a merely statistical concept. Nuovo Cimento 9 (1958) 162-170
96. Schweber S. The empiricist temper regnant: theoretical physics in the United States 1920-1950. Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences 17 Part 1 (1986) 55-98
97. Shikhovtsev, E.B. (2003). Biographical sketch of Hugh Everett, III. Available online: 〈http://www.hep.upenn.edu/~max/everett/everettbio.pdf〉.
98. Shimony A. Role of the observer in quantum theory. American Journal of Physics 31 6 (1963) 755-773
99. Sopka K.R. Quantum physics in America 1920-1935 (1980), Arno Press, New York
100. Stapp H.P. The Copenhagen interpretation. American Journal of Physics 40 (1972) 1098-1116
101. Stapp H.P. Quantum theory and the place of mind in nature. In: Faye J., and Folse H. (Eds). Niels Bohr and contemporary philosophy. Boston studies in the philosophy of science (1994), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 245-252
102. Stöltzner M. What John von Neumann thought of the Bohm interpretation. In: Greenberger D., Reiter W.L., and Zeilinger A. (Eds). Epistemological and experimental perspectives on quantum mechanics (1999), Springer, Dordrecht 257-262
103. Teller P. The projection postulate and Bohr's interpretation of quantum mechanics. In: Asquith P., and Giere R. (Eds). PSA 1980: Proceedings of the 1980 Biennial meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association Vol. 2 (1981), Michigan State University, East Lansing 201-223
104. Vaidman, L. (2002). The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. In: E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2002. Available online: 〈http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2002/entries/qm-manyworlds〉.
105. Von Neumann J. Mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics. Translated by R. T. Beyer (1955), Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ
106. Werner F.G. The foundations of quantum mechanics. Physics Today 17 1 (1964) 53-60
107. Wheeler J.A. A septet of Sibylis. American Scientist 44 (1956) 360-377
108. Wheeler J.A. Assessment of Everett's "Relative State" formulation of quantum theory. Review of Modern Physics 29 (1957) 463-465 (Reprinted in: J. A. Wheeler & W. H. Zurek (Eds.), Quantum theory and measurement (pp. 324-325). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983. Page numbers refer to the reprint.)
109. Wheeler J.A. The Universe in the light of general relativity. The Monist 47 (1962) 40-76
110. Wheeler J.A. Frontiers of time. In: Toraldo di Francia G. (Ed). Problems in the foundations of physics. Proceedings of the international school of physics E. Fermi (1979), North-Holland, Dordrecht 395-497 (Partially reprinted in: J. A. Wheeler & W. H. Zurek (Eds.), Quantum theory and measurement (pp. 182-213). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983.)
111. Wheeler J.A. Mercer Street and other memories. In: Tauber G.E. (Ed). Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity (1979), Crown Publishers, New York 182-184
112. Wheeler J.A. Not consciousness but the distinction between the probe and the probed as central to the elemental quantum act of observation. In: Jahn R.G. (Ed). The role of consciousness in the physical world (1981), Westview, Boulder 87-111
113. Wheeler J.A. Physics in Copenhagen in 1934 and 1935. In: French A.P., and Kennedy P.J. (Eds). Niels Bohr, a centenary volume (1985), Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA 221-226
114. Wheeler J.A. Geons, black holes and quantum foam. With K. W. Ford (2000), Norton, New York
115. In: Wheeler J.A., and Zurek W.H. (Eds). Quantum theory and measurement (1983), Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ
116. Wigner E.P. Remarks on the mind-body question. In: Good I.J. (Ed). The scientist speculates (1961), Heinemann, London 284-302 (Reprinted in J. A. Wheeler & W. H. Zurek (Eds.), Quantum theory and measurement (pp. 168-181). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983.)
117. Wigner E.P. The problem of measurement. American Journal of Physics 31 (1963) 6-15
118. Zurek W.H. Decoherence, einselection and the existential interpretation (the rough guide). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London A356 (1998) 1793-1820