Probabilities, Causes and Propensities in Physics

Description

This volume defends a novel approach to the philosophy of physics: it is the first book devoted to a comparative study of probability, causality, and propensity, and their various interrelations, within the context of contemporary physics -- particularly quantum and statistical physics. The philosophical debates and distinctions are firmly grounded upon examples from actual physics, thus exemplifying a robustly empiricist approach. The essays, by both prominent scholars in the field and promising young researchers, constitute a pioneer effort in bringing out the connections between probabilistic, causal and dispositional aspects of the quantum domain. The book will appeal to specialists in philosophy and foundations of physics, philosophy of science in general, metaphysics, ontology of physics theories, and philosophy of probability. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Four Theses on Probabilities, Causes, Propensities....Pages 1-37 Front Matter....Pages 39-39 Probability and Time Symmetry in Classical Markov Processes....Pages 41-59 Probability Assignments and the Principle of Indifference. An Examination of Two Eliminative Strategies....Pages 61-76 Why Typicality Does Not Explain the Approach to Equilibrium....Pages 77-93 Front Matter....Pages 95-95 From Metaphysics to Physics and Back: the Example of Causation....Pages 97-113 On Explanation in Retro-causal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics....Pages 115-155 Causal Completeness in General Probability Theories....Pages 157-171 Causal Markov, Robustness and the Quantum Correlations....Pages 173-193 Front Matter....Pages 195-195 Do Dispositions and Propensities Have a Role in the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics? Some Critical Remarks....Pages 197-219 Is the Quantum World Composed of Propensitons?....Pages 221-243 Derivative Dispositions and Multiple Generative Levels....Pages 245-257 Back Matter....Pages 259-264