HPSC4101 - Interpreting Quantum Mechanics (Philosophy of Physics)

* A more general Introduction to Philosophy of Science will be offered as well. Please consult the Unit for details.

Semester 1
Lecturer: Dr Dean Rickles

Prerequisites: Available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science)
6 credit points
1x 2-hour seminar per week (see timetable)
Assessment: Presentation, paper


Space, time and spacetime

Richard Feynman famously said that if you think you understand quantum theory, you don’t understand quantum theory. At an experimental level, quantum theory is unsurpassed; at an interpretive level, however, quantum theory is in bad shape. In order to try to make sense of how it could possibly be true, physicists and philosophers have been led to make a variety of strange-sounding claims: consciousness being required to bring the world into classical states, splitting of the universe into multiple copies, and more. Others have thrown their hands up in despair, choosing an instrumentalist or operationalist path. But this move still leaves us without an explanation of it’s empirical success. In this course we get to grips with the possible meaning of quantum theory, looking at formalisms, experiments, and interpretations. The course will be taught by a wide range of guest lecturers.

By the end of this unit of study you should:

• have a good grip on the basic formal and experiemental details of quantum mechanics
• grasp the mathematical details underpinning quantum mechanics
• understand the development of contemporary positions in the philosophy of quantum mechanics
• be prepared for future research in philosophy of physics and philosophy of science more generally
• be able to present and defend an academic talk
• be able to write a large scale research essay