Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1161074 Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 2008 27 Pages PDF
Abstract

The curious correlations between distant events in quantum phenomena suggest the existence of non-local influences. Indeed, as John Bell demonstrated in his celebrated theorem, granted some plausible premises any quantum theory will predict the existence of such non-local influences. One of the theorem's premises is that the probability distribution of states that systems may assume is independent of the measurements that they undergo at a later time. Retro-causal interpretations of quantum mechanics postulate backward influences from measurement events to the state of systems at an earlier time, and accordingly violate this premise. We argue that retro-causal interpretations predict the existence of closed causal loops, which pose challenges for the predictive and explanatory power of these interpretations.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy (General)
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