Probabilities, Causes and Propensities in Physics (eBook)

Mauricio Suárez is a philosopher of science specialising in philosophy of physics. He has published widely in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, modelling and representation, and scientific epistemology in journals such as Erkenntnis, Studies in History and Philosohy of Modern Physics, Foundations of Physics, Philosophy of Science, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, History of the Human Sciences. He is the editor of Fictions in Science: Philosophical Essays on Modelling and Idealisation (London: Routledge, 2009) and co-editor of the Proceedings of the founding conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA), which he organised in Madrid in 2007.

Preface 5
Contents 6
Contributors 8
1 Four Theses on Probabilities, Causes, Propensities 9
1.1 Overview of the Book 9
1.2 Probabilities 10
1.2.1 Transition Probabilities and Time-Symmetry 10
1.2.2 The Principle of Indifference 13
1.2.3 Typicality in Statistical Mechanics 16
1.3 Causes 18
1.3.1 From Metaphysics to Physics 19
1.3.2 Causal Loops in Retro-Causal Models 20
1.3.3 Causal Completeness of Probability Theories 22
1.3.4 Robustness and the Markov Condition 23
1.4 Propensities 24
1.4.1 Dispositions in the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics 25
1.4.2 The Propensiton Theory Revisited 26
1.4.3 Derivative Dispositions 27
1.5 Transition Versus Conditional Probabilities 28
1.5.1 Transition Probability: Take One 28
1.5.2 Transition Probability: Take Two 29
1.5.3 Transitions are Not Conditionalisation Processes 30
1.5.4 Biased and Unbiased Samples 30
1.6 Propensity as Probability 31
1.6.1 Long Run Versus Single Case Propensities 31
1.6.2 Humphrey's Paradox 34
1.6.3 Conditional Propensities 36
1.7 Propensity as Dispositional Property 38
1.7.1 Propensities Display Probabilities 38
1.7.2 Absolute Propensities 40
1.7.3 Humphreys' Paradox Revisited 42
1.8 Causal and Dispositional Presuppositions in Physics 43
References 44
Part I Probabilities 46
2 Probability and Time Symmetry in Classical Markov Processes 47
2.1 Introduction 47
2.2 A Few Essentials About Markov Processes 48
2.3 Definitions of Time Symmetry 52
2.4 Probability and Time Symmetry 56
2.4.1 Arguments for Asymmetry 56
2.4.2 Time-Directed Behaviour and Time-Symmetric Probabilities 58
2.4.3 Interpretation of Probability 61
Appendix 63
References 65
3 Probability Assignments and the Principle of Indifference. An Examination of Two Eliminative Strategies 66
3.1 Introduction 66
3.2 The Poincar -- Reichenbach Strategy 68
3.3 The Gillies Strategy 73
3.4 Conclusion 78
Appendix 1 79
Appendix 2 80
References 80
4 Why Typicality Does Not Explain the Approach to Equilibrium 82
4.1 Introduction 82
4.2 Classical Boltzmannian SM 83
4.3 Typicality and the Approach to Equilibrium 85
4.4 Further Qualms 92
4.5 Conclusion 96
References 97
Part II Causes 99
5 From Metaphysics to Physics and Back: the Example of Causation 100
5.1 Introduction 100
5.2 Prolegomena on Causation and Quantum Nonlocality 102
5.3 Nonlocality, Supeluminal Influence and Causation 106
5.4 Causation in Quantum Mechanics with State Reduction and in Its GRW Formulation 110
5.5 Causation and Spacetime Foliation in Bohmian Mechanics 113
5.6 Conclusions 114
References 115
6 On Explanation in Retro-causal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics 117
6.1 Retro-Causal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics: Background and Motivations 117
6.2 Causal Loops in Retro-Causal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics 122
6.3 Causal Loops: The Basic Concepts 124
6.4 Arguments for the Impossibility of Backward Causation and Causal Loops 127
6.5 On Causal Loops in Bell-like Retro-Causal Models 129
6.5.1 Deterministic Models 129
6.5.2 Indeterministic Models 133
6.6 On Probabilities and Predictions in Indeterministic Causal Loops 137
6.7 Retro-Causal Theories and the Measurement Problem 140
6.7.1 The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics 141
6.7.2 Causally Symmetric Bohmian Model 144
6.8 Are Retro-Causal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics Explanatory Vacuous? 148
6.9 Conclusions 151
References 155
7 Causal Completeness in General Probability Theories 158
7.1 Informal Formulation of the Problem of Causal Completeness 158
7.2 General Probability Spaces Definitions and Notations 159
7.3 A General Notion of Reichenbachian Common Cause 161
7.4 Notions of Causal Completeness of General Probability Theories 165
7.5 Some Results on Causal Completeness 167
7.6 Closing Comments 169
References 171
8 Causal Markov, Robustness and the Quantum Correlations 173
8.1 Introduction 173
8.2 EPR and Quantum Correlations 175
8.3 Redheads Robustness 176
8.4 Healey on Robustness 178
8.5 The Causal Markov Condition 180
8.6 Robustness and the Causal Markov Condition 181
8.6.1 Total Causes and the Causal Markov Condition 181
8.6.2 Internal Robustness, Partial Causes and the Causal Markov Condition 182
8.6.3 Robustness Updated 182
8.7 EPR and the Causal Markov Condition 183
8.7.1 Causal Markov, Interventions and Modularity 184
8.7.2 Interventions in EPR 185
8.7.3 Causal Markov and Other Interpretations 187
8.8 Conclusions 191
References 192
Part III Propensities 194
9 Do Dispositions and Propensities Have a Role in the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics? Some Critical Remarks 195
9.1 Dispositions and the Interpretive Task of Quantum Mechanics 195
9.2 Is the Distinction between Dispositional and Non-Dispositional Properties Genuine ? 197
9.3 Dispositions and Categorical Properties in QM 201
9.3.1 Clifton and Pagonis on Dispositionality as Contextualism 203
9.3.2 Suárez on Dispositions 204
9.4 Adding Dispositions and Propensities to GRW 206
9.5 Dispositions in (some) Non-Collapse Models: Bohrs Interpretation 211
9.5.1 Su'rez's Selective Approach to the Measurement Problem 213
References 215
10 Is the Quantum World Composed of Propensitons? 218
10.1 Defects of Orthodox Quantum Theory 218
10.2 Fundamental Defect: Failure to Solve Wave/Particle Problem 220
10.3 Probabilism as the Key to the Solution to the Wave/Particle Problem 221
10.4 Two Kinds of Fundamentally Probabilistic Entity 222
10.5 Guiding Principle: Stay Close to OQT 224
10.6 Can the .-Function be Interpreted as Specifying the Actual Physical States of Propensitons? 225
10.7 Precise Quantum Theoretic Conditions for Probabilistic Transitions to Occur 228
10.8 PQT Recovers all the Empirical Success of OQT 231
10.9 Crucial Experiments 233
10.10 What PQT Achieves 234
10.11 The Problem of Developing a Relativistic Version of PQT 234
10.12 PQT Has Its Roots in Old Quantum Theory 236
10.13 Why Has PQT been Ignored? 238
10.14 Conclusions 239
References 239
11 Derivative Dispositions and Multiple Generative Levels 241
11.1 Introduction 241
11.2 Beyond Simple Dispositions 242
11.2.1 Changing Dispositions 242
11.2.2 Rearrangement Dispositions 242
11.2.3 Derivative Dispositions 243
11.3 Examples of Derivative Dispositions 243
11.3.1 Energy and Force 243
11.3.2 Sequences, or Levels? 244
11.3.3 Hamiltonians, Wave Functions and Measurements 245
11.3.4 Virtual and Actual Processes 246
11.3.5 Pregeometry and the Generation of Spacetime 246
11.3.6 Psychology 247
11.4 Analytical Scheme 248
11.4.1 Generative Sequences 248
11.4.2 Principal, Instrumental and Occasional Causes 248
11.4.3 Causal Sequences in Physics 249
11.4.4 Conditional Forward Causation 250
11.5 Reductionism and Dispositional Essentialism 251
References 252
Name Index 254
Subject Index 257