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arXiv:quant-ph/9609013quant-ph

The Ithaca Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

N. David Mermin

Abstract

I list several strong requirements for what I would consider a sensible interpretation of quantum mechanics and I discuss two simple theorems. One, as far as I know, is new; the other was only noted a few years ago. Both have important implications for such a sensible interpretation. My talk will not clear everything up; indeed, you may conclude that it has not cleared anything up. But I hope it will provide a different perspective from which to view some old and vexing puzzles (or, if you believe nothing needs to be cleared up, some ancient verities.)

arXiv comments
21 pages, plain TEX. Notes for a lecture given at the Golden Jubilee Workshop on Foundations of Quantum Theory, Tata Institute, Bombay, September 9-12, 1996
Journal reference
Pramana 51:549-565,1998
DOI
doi:10.1007/BF02827447
Subjects
quant-phQuantum Physics

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Linked by 3 identifiable commenters in 5 comments across 5 threads, from Apr 2011 to Oct 2025.

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Discussed in comments5 threads

  1. Carlo Rovelli’s radical perspective on reality 1 comment

    • Another Ph.D. physicist here. Any popularization of quantum mechanics (or quantum gravity in this case) can quickly degenerate into potentially foolish, or even harmful, metaphysical speculation. Physicists are in the business of finding the best set of mathematical rules that…

      GlibMonkeyDeathView on HNParent context

  2. The Contest Between Gravity and Quantum Physics 1 comment

    • > inflating small fragments HN comments don't lend themselves well to long-form writing. But in this case it wasn't really necessary to go past that one small fragment to see that Motl had not in fact paid attention to the details because he's attacking a straw man. > Your…

      lisperView on HNParent context

  3. Quantum Theory Experiment Said to Prove ‘Spooky’ Interactions 1 comment

    • My paper is based on this one: http://arxiv.org/pdf/quant-ph/9605002v2.pdf I don't know if that exact paper was ever published, but an earlier version was formally published here: C. H. Adami and N. J. Cerf, “Information Theory of Quantum Entanglement and Measurement,” Physica D…

      lisperView on HNParent context

  4. Bell inequality violation finally done right 1 comment

    • > it's a fuck-ton Or zero. (But it's definitely not one.) Personally I find the zero-worlds view to be the most intuitively satisfying: http://www.flownet.com/ron/QM.pdf (Or the movie version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaecUuEqfc) David Mermin's Ithaca interpretation is…

      lisperView on HNParent context

  5. A thought-experiment about matter, space, and time. 1 comment

    • Yes, that is where it all started, but there is ongoing development of the relational view. For example, in this essay Julian Barbour derives an expression for time in terms of positions: http://fqxi.org/data/essay-contest-files/Barbour_The_Nature_... And here is David Mermin's…

      mikhailfrancoView on HNParent context

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