Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contextuality, Nonlocality and Counterfactual Arguments

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, following an elementary line of thought which somewhat differs from the usual one, we prove once more that any deterministic theory predictively equivalent to quantum mechanics unavoidably exhibits a contextual character. The purpose of adopting this perspective is that of paving the way for a critical analysis of the use of counterfactual arguments when dealing with nonlocal physical processes.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bell, J.S.: Physics 1, 195 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Suppes, P., Zanotti, M.: In: Suppes, P. (ed.) Logic and Probability in Quantum Mechanics, p. 445. Reidel, Dordrecht (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  3. van Fraassen, B.: Synthese 52, 25 (1982)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Jarrett, J.: Nous 18, 569 (1984)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Shimony, A.: In: Kamefuchi, S., (eds.) Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology, p. 225. Physical Society of Japan, Tokyo (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gleason, A.M.: J. Math. Mech. 6, 885 (1957)

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. Bell, J.S.: Rev. Mod. Phys. 38, 447 (1966)

    Article  MATH  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kochen, S., Specker, E.: J. Math. Mech. 13, 481 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Peres, A.: Quantum Theory: Concepts and Methods. Kluwer, Dordrecht (1993)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Conway, J., Kochen, S.: Found. Phys. 36, 1441 (2006)

    Article  MATH  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  11. Conway, J., Kochen, S.: 0807.3286 (2008)

  12. Adler, S.: quant-ph/0604122 (2006)

  13. Bassi, A., Ghirardi, G.C.: Found. Phys. 37, 169 (2007)

    Article  MATH  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Tumulka, R.: Found. Phys. 37, 186 (2007)

    Article  MATH  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  15. Conway, J., Kochen, S.: quant-ph/0610147v1 (2006)

  16. ’t Hooft, G.: quant-ph/0701097v1 (2007)

  17. Einstein, A., Podolski, B., Rosen, N.: Phys. Rev. 47, 777 (1935)

    Article  MATH  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bohm, D.: Quantum Theory. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lewis, D.: Counterfactuals. Blackwell, Oxford (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ghirardi, G.C., Grassi, R.: Stud. Hist. Philos. Sci. 25, 97 (1994)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

    Gian Carlo Ghirardi & Karl Wienand

  2. Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

    Gian Carlo Ghirardi

  3. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Trieste, Italy

    Gian Carlo Ghirardi

Authors
  1. Gian Carlo Ghirardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karl Wienand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gian Carlo Ghirardi.

Additional information

One of us (G.C.G.) dedicates this paper to the colleague and friend Pekka Lahti with whom he had many stimulating scientific and human interactions.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ghirardi, G.C., Wienand, K. Contextuality, Nonlocality and Counterfactual Arguments. Found Phys 39, 776–789 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-009-9303-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-009-9303-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation