Article ID: CBB000410823

The Nature of the Controversy over Time-Symmetric Quantum Counterfactuals (2003)

unapi

It is proposed that the recent controversy over time-symmetric quantum counterfactuals (TSQCs), based on the Aharonov-Bergmann-Lebowitz Rule for measurements of pre- and post-selected systems, can be clarified by taking TSQCs to be counterfactuals with a specific type of compound antecedent. In that case, inconsistency proofs such as that of Sharp and Shanks (1993) are not applicable, and the main issue becomes not whether such statements are true, but whether they are nontrivial. The latter question is addressed and answered in the negative. Thus it is concluded that TSQCs, understood as counterfactuals with a compound antecedent, are true but only trivially so, and provide no new contingent information about specific quantum systems (except in special cases already identified in literature).

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Authors & Contributors
Stuckey, W. M.
Joshua Norton
Jaramillo, José Luis
McDevitt, Timothy
Josh Hunt
Pashby, Thomas
Concepts
Philosophy of science
Quantum mechanics
Symmetry
Time
Physics
Counterfactuals (logic)
Time Periods
20th century
21st century
Modern
Medieval
17th century
Places
Germany
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