The Wave Function

This is a new volume of original essays on the metaphysics of quantum mechanics. The essays address questions such as: What fundamental metaphysics is best motivated by quantum mechanics? What is the ontological status of the wave function? Does quantum mechanics support the existence of any other fundamental entities, e.g. particles? What is the nature of the fundamental space (or space-time manifold) of quantum mechanics? What is the relationship between the fundamental ontology of quantum mechanics and ordinary, macroscopic objects like tables, chairs, and persons? The volume includes a comprehensive introduction with a history of quantum mechanics and the debate over its metaphysical interpretation focusing especially on the main realist alternatives.
"The wave function is perhaps the central representational tool that quantum physics uses to describe the world. But just what sort of physical reality does it represent? For too long, a physics too infected by instrumentalist tendencies ignored this question; but in recent decades, it has, happily, come to be viewed as absolutely central to a proper understanding of quantum physics. The Wave Function features ten commissioned essays by some of the sharpest physicists and philosophers working on this topic, framed by a masterful and comprehensive introductory essay that will make this volume readily accessible, even to the non-specialist. Wondering how to make sense of what quantum physics says about the world? Curious about the multifarious metaphysical and epistemological implications of what it says? Then this volume is for you."--Ned Hall, Department of Philosophy, Harvard University

PREFACE ; DAVID Z. ALBERT AND ALYSSA NEY ; INTRODUCTION ; ALYSSA NEY ; CHAPTER 1. WAVE FUNCTION REALISM ; DAVID Z. ALBERT ; CHAPTER 2. PRIMITIVE ONTOLOGY AND THE STRUCTURE OF FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL THEORIES ; VALIA ALLORI ; CHAPTER 3. WHITHER WAVE-FUNCTION REALISM? ; STEVEN FRENCH ; CHAPTER 4. REALITY AND THE ROLE OF THE WAVEFUNCTION IN QUANTUM THEORY ; SHELDON GOLDSTEIN AND NINO ZANGHI ; CHAPTER 5. DIMENSION AND ILLUSION ; PETER J. LEWIS ; CHAPTER 6. THE NATURE OF THE QUANTUM STATE ; TIM MAUDLIN ; CHAPTER 7. AGAINST 3N-DIMENSIONAL SPACE ; BRADLEY MONTON ; CHAPTER 8. ONTOLOGICAL REDUCTION AND THE WAVE FUNCTION ONTOLOGY ; ALYSSA NEY ; CHAPTER 9. THE STRUCTURE OF A QUANTUM WORLD ; JILL NORTH ; CHAPTER 10. A PROLEGOMENON TO THE ONTOLOGY OF THE EVERETT INTERPRETATION ; DAVID WALLACE