Skip to main content
Log in

For whom the Bell arguments toll

  • Published:
Synthese Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We will formulate two Bell arguments. Together they show that if the probabilities given by quantum mechanics are approximately correct, then the properties exhibited by certain physical systems must be nontrivially dependent on thetypes of measurements performedand eithernonlocally connected orholistically related to distant events. Although a number of related arguments have appeared since John Bell's original paper (1964), they tend to be either highly technical or to lack full generality. The following arguments depend on the weakest of premises, and the structure of the arguments is simpler than most (without any loss of rigor or generality). The technical simplicity is due in part to a novel version of the generalized Bell inequality. The arguments are self contained and presuppose no knowledge of quantum mechanics. We will also offer a Dutch Book argument for measurement type dependence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aspect, A., J. Dalibard, and G. Roger.: 1982, ‘Experimental Tests of Bell's Inequalities using Time-Varying Analyzers’,Physical Review Letters 49, 1804–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aspect, A., P. Grangier, and G. Roger.: 1981, ‘Experimental Tests of Realistic Local Theories via Bell's Theorem’,Physical Review Letters 47, 460–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aspect, A., P. Grangier, and G. Roger.: 1982, ‘Experimental Realization of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-BohmGedankenexperiment, A New Violation of Bell's Inequalities’,Physical Review Letters 49, 91–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belinfante, F. J.: 1973,A Survey of Hidden Variables Theories, Oxford.

  • Bell, J. S.: 1964, ‘On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox’,Physics 1, 195–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, J. S.: 1966, ‘On the Problem of Hidden Variables in Quantum Mechanics’,Reviews of Modern Physics 38, 447–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, J. S.: 1971, ‘Introduction to the Hidden Variable Question’, in B. d'Espagnat (ed.),Foundation of Quantum Mechanics, Academic Press, New York, pp. 171–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohm, D. and Y. Aharonov.: 1957, ‘Discussion of Experimental Proof for the Paradox of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen’,Physical Review 108, 1070–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohm, D., and B. J. Hiley.: 1984, ‘Quantum Potential Model for the Quantum Theory’, in Kamefuchi et al. (eds.),Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology, Physical Society of Japan, Tokyo, pp. 231–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohr, N.: 1934,Atomic Theory and the Descriptive of Nature, Cambridge University Press.

  • Bohr, N.: 1935, ‘Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality be Considered Complete?’,Physical Review 38 696–702.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright, N.: 1989,Nature's Capacities and their Measurement, Clarendon, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clauser, J. F. and M. A. Horne.: 1974, ‘Experimental Consequences of Objective Local Theories’,Physical Review D10, 526–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clauser, J. F. and A. Shimony.: 1978, ‘Bell's Theorem, Experimental Tests and Implications’,Reports on Progress in Physics 41, 1881–927.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cushing, J. T. and E. McMullin (eds.).: 1989,Philosophical Consequences of Quantum Theory, Reflections on Bell's Theorem, University of Notre Dame Press.

  • Davies, P. C. W. and J. R. Brown (eds.).: 1986,The Ghost in the Atom, Cambridge University Press.

  • Einstein, A., B. Podolsky, and N. Rosen.: 1935, ‘Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality be Considered Complete?’,Physical Review 47, 777–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healey, R.: 1979, ‘Quantum Realism: Naiveté Is No Excuse’,Synthese 42, 121–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellman, G.: 1982, ‘Einstein and Bell, Strengthing the Case for Microphysical Randomness’,Synthese 53, 445–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellman, G.: 1987, ‘EPR, Bell, and Collapse, a Route Around Stochastic Variables’,Philosophy of Science 54, 639–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarrett, J. P.: 1984, ‘On the Physical Significance of the Locality Conditions in the Bell Arguments’,Noûs 18, 569–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarrett, J. P.: 1989, ‘Bell's Theorem, A Guide to the Implications’, in Cushing and McMullin (1989), pp. 60–79.

  • Peacock, K.: 1991,Peaceful Coexistence or Armed Truce?, doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto.

  • Redhead, M. L. G.: 1987,Incompleteness, Nonlocality, and Realism, A Prolegomenon to the Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimony, A.: 1984, ‘Controllable and Uncontrollable Non-locality’, in Kamefuchi et. al., (eds.),Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology, Tokyo, Physical Society of Japan, pp. 225–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stapp, H.: 1971, ‘S-Matrix Interpretation of Quantum Theory’,Physical Review D3, 1303–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teller, P.: 1986, ‘Relational Holism and Quantum Mechanics’,British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 37, 71–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teller, P.: 1989, ‘Relativity, Relational Holism and the Bell Inequalities’, in Cushing and McMullin (1989), pp. 208–23.

  • van Fraassen, B.: 1982, ‘The Charybdis of Realism, Epistemological Implications of Bell's Inequality’,Synthese 52, 25–38. Reprinted in Cushing and McMullin (1989), pp. 97–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigner, E.: 19?0, ‘On Hidden Variables and Quantum Mechanical Probabilities’,American Journal of Physics 33, 1005–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hawthorne, J., Silberstein, M. For whom the Bell arguments toll. Synthese 102, 99–138 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063901

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063901

Keywords

Navigation