<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this paper we provide a general account of the causal models which attempt to provide a solution to the famous measurement problem of Quantum Mechanics (QM). We will argue that—leaving aside instrumentalism which restricts the physical meaning of QM to the algorithmic prediction of measurement outcomes—the many interpretations which can be found in the literature can be distinguished through the way they model the measurement process, either in terms of the <italic>efficient cause</italic> or in terms of the <italic>final cause</italic>. We will discuss and analyze why both, ‘final cause’ and ‘efficient cause’ models, face severe difficulties to solve the measurement problem. In contradistinction to these schemes we will present a new model based on the <italic>immanent cause</italic> which, we will argue, provides an intuitive understanding of the measurement process in QM.</p></abstract>

In this paper we provide a general account of the causal models which attempt to provide a solution to the famous measurement problem of Quantum Mechanics (QM). We will argue that—leaving aside instrumentalism which restricts the physical meaning of QM to the algorithmic prediction of measurement outcomes—the many interpretations which can be found in the literature can be distinguished through the way they model the measurement process, either in terms of the efficient cause or in terms of the final cause. We will discuss and analyze why both, ‘final cause’ and ‘efficient cause’ models, face severe difficulties to solve the measurement problem. In contradistinction to these schemes we will present a new model based on the immanent cause which, we will argue, provides an intuitive understanding of the measurement process in QM.

Causality and the Modeling of the Measurement Process in Quantum Theory

Center Leo Apostel and Foundations of the Exact Sciences

Disputatio

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Causality and the Modeling of the Measurement Process in Quantum Theory"}

In this paper we provide a general account of the causal models which attempt to provide a solution to the famous measurement problem of Quantum Mechanics...

Causality and the Modeling of the Measurement Process in Quantum Theory

Published Online: Oct 16, 2018

Page range: 657 - 690

Received: Sep 05, 2017

Accepted: Nov 02, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/disp-2017-0022

Keywords
Causality, models, explanation, measurement problem, quantum mechanics

© 2017 Christian de Ronde, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Causality and the Modeling of the Measurement Process in Quantum Theory

Published Online: Oct 16, 2018

Page range: 657 - 690

Received: Sep 05, 2017

Accepted: Nov 02, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/disp-2017-0022

KeywordsCausality, models, explanation, measurement problem, quantum mechanics

© 2017 Christian de Ronde, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Causality, models, explanation, measurement problem, quantum mechanics