Abstract
We prove that the general scheme for physical theories that we have called semantic realism(SR) in some previous papers copes successfully with a number of EPR-like paradoxes when applied to quantum physics (QP). In particular, we consider the old arguments by Furry and Bohm- Aharonov and show that they are not valid within a SR framework. Moreover, we consider the Bell-Kochen-Specker und the Bell theorems that should prove that QP is inherently contextual and nonlocal, respectively, and show that they can be invalidated in the SR approach. This removes the seeming contradiction between the basic assumptions of SR and QP, and proves that some problematic features that are usually attributed to QP, us contextuality and nonlocality, occur because of the adoption of a verificationist position, from one side, and from an insufficient adherence to the operational principles that have inspired QP itself, from the other side.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Jammer,The Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics (Wiley, New York, 1974).
F. Selleri, “History of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox.” inQuantum Mechanics Versus Local Realism, F. Selleri, ed. (Plenum, New York, 1988). p. 1.
C. Garola and L. Solombrino, “The theoretical apparatus of semantic realism: a new language for classical and quantum physics,”Found. Phys. 26, 1121 (1996).
C. Garola, “Semantic incompleteness of quantum physics and EPR-like paradoxes,”Int. J. Theor. Phys. 32, 1863 (1993).
C. Garola, “Reconciling local realism and quantum physics: a critique to Bell,”Teor. Mat. Fiz. 99, 285 (1994).
C. Garola, “Criticizing Bell: local realism and quantum physics reconciled,”Int. J. Theor. Phys. 34, 269 (1995).
C. Garola, “Questioning Nonlocality: an operational critique to Bell's Theorem,” inThe Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Historical Analysis and Open Questions, C. Garola and A. Rossi, eds. (Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, 1995), p. 273.
C. Garola, “Pragmatic versus semantic contextuality in quantum physics,”Int. J. Theor. Phys. 34, 1383 (1995).
W. M. De Muynck, W. De Baere, and H. Maartens, “Interpretation of quantum mechanics, joint measurement of incompatible observables, and counterfactual definiteness,”Found. Phys. 24, 1589 (1994).
H. P. Stapp, “Comments on ‘Interpretation of quantum mechanics, joint measurement of incompatible observables, and counterfactual definiteness’,”Found. Phys. 24, 1665 (1995).
S. Kochen and E. P. Specker, “The problem of hidden variables in quantum mechanics,”J. Math. Mech. 17, 59 (1967).
N. D. Mermin, “Hidden variables and the two theorems of John Bell,”Rev. Mod. Phys. 65, 803 (1993).
A. Einstein, B. Podolsky, and N. Rosen, “Can quantum mechanical description of reality be considered complete?,”Phys. Rev. 47, 777 (1935).
D. Bohm,Quantum theory (Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1951).
B. D'Espagnat,Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Benjamin, Reading, Massachusetts, 1976).
W. H. Furry, “Note on the quantum-mechanical theory of measurement,”Phys. Rev. 49, 393 (1936).
W. H. Furry. “Remarks on measurements in quantum theory,”Phys. Rev. 49, 476 (1936).
D. Fortunato, “A property of the projection operator associated to a mixture of the second type,”Lett. Nuovo Cimento 15, 289 (1976).
D. Bohm and Y. Aharonov. “Discussion of experimental proofs for the paradox of Einstein, Rosen, and Podolsky,”Phys. Rev. 108, 1070 (1957).
J. S. Bell, “On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox,”Physics 1, 195 (1964).
J. S. Bell, “On the problem of hidden variables in quantum mechanics,”Rev. Mod. Phys. 38, 447 (1966).
E. P. Wigner, “On hidden variables and quantum mechanical probabilities,”Am. J. Phys. 38, 1005 (1970).
F. Selleri, “Even local probabilities lead to the paradox,” inQuantum Mechanics Versus Local Realism. F. Selleri, ed. (Plenum. New York, 1988) p. 149.
D. M. Greenberger, M. A. Horne, A. Shimony, and A. Zeilinger, “Bell's theorem without inequalities,”Am. J. Phys. 58, 1131 (1990).
M. Redhead,Incompleteness, Nonlocalily and Realism (Clarendon, Oxford, 1987).
W. Heisenberg.Physics and Philosophy (Harper & Row, New York, 1958).
C. Garola, “Classical foundations of quantum logic,”Int. J. Theor. Phys. 30, 1 (1991).
J. J. Sakurai,Modern Quantum Mechanics (Benjamin, Reading, Massachusetts, 1985).
A. Aspect, P. Grangier, and G. Roger, “Experimental tests of realistic local theories via Bell's theorem,”Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, 460 (1981).
A. Aspect, P. Grangier, and G. Roger, “Experimental realization of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm gedankenexperiment: a new violation of Bell's inequalities,”Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 91 (1982).
A. Aspect, J. Dalibard, and G. Roger. “Experimental tests of Bell's inequalities using time-varying analyzers,”Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1804 (1982).
K. C. Clifton, M. L. G. Redhead, and J. N. Butterfield “Generalization of the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger algebraic proof of nonlocality,”Found. Phys. 21, 149 (1991).
N. D. Mermin. “Quantum mysteries revisited.”Am. J. Phys. 58, 731 (1990).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garola, C., Solombrino, L. Semantic realism versus EPR-Like paradoxes: The Furry, Bohm-Aharonov, and Bell paradoxes. Found Phys 26, 1329–1356 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02058272
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02058272