Document Type
Article
Abstract
Schr ̈odinger’s first proposal for the interpretation of quantum mechanics was based on a postulate relating the wave function on configuration space to charge density in physical space. Schr ̈odinger apparently later thought that his proposal was empirically wrong. We argue here that this is not the case, at least for a very similar proposal with charge density replaced by mass density. We argue that when analyzed carefully this theory is seen to be an empirically adequate many-worlds theory and not an empirically inadequate theory describing a single world. Moreover, this formulation—Schr ̈odinger’s first quantum theory—can be regarded as a formulation of the many-worlds view of quantum mechanics that is ontologically clearer than Everett’s.
DOI
10.1093/bjps/axp053
Publication Date
6-30-2010
Recommended Citation
"Many-Worlds and Schroedinger's First Quantum Theory." The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 62 (1), 1--27 (2011) -- (with S. Goldstein, R. Tumulka, and N. Zanghi). doi: 10.1093/bjps/axp053
Original Citation
"Many-Worlds and Schroedinger's First Quantum Theory." The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 62 (1), 1--27 (2011) -- (with S. Goldstein, R. Tumulka, and N. Zanghi). doi: 10.1093/bjps/axp053
Legacy Department
Department of Philosophy
Language
eng
