2019/06/02 by I. Schmelzer, Schmelzer, I.
Arts and Humanities · Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Computability, Logic, AI Algorithms #FOS: Physical sciences #Philosophy and History of Science #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1906.00956
openalex publication_date 2019/06/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
As a counterexample to ψ-ontology theorems we consider a ψ-epistemic interpretation of the wave function in the configuration space representation with a configuration space trajectory defining the ontology. This shows that ψ-ontology theorems appear unable to prove that the wave function cannot be interpreted as epistemic. We identify the criterion used to decide if ψ is epistemic or ontological as the misleading part. Different states having overlaps is only sufficient for being epistemic. In an epistemic interpretation the information which completely identifies the wave function also has an objective base in reality - the preparation procedure, which has to be really executed to prepare a state. Naming the λ∈ Λ "hidden variables" and considering them as part of the state of the system we also identify as misleading, because it hides the possibility that they may be visible and external to the system. This leads to further misconceptions about the consequences of the theorems.