Probabilities, Causes and Propensities in Physics / edited by Mauricio Suárez.

Springer eBooks

Preface -- 1. Introduction; Mauricio Suárez -- PART I: PROBABILITIES -- 2. Probability and time symmetry in classical Markov processes; Guido Bacciagaluppi -- 3. Probability assignments and the principle of indifference: An examination of two eliminative strategies; Sorin Bangu -- 4. Why typicality does not explain the approach to equilibrium; Roman Frigg; PART II: CAUSES -- 5. From metaphysics to physics and back: The example of causation; Federico Laudisa -- 6. On explanation in retro-causal interpretations of quantum mechanics; Joseph Berkovitz -- 7. Causal completeness in general probability theories; Balasz Gyenis, Miklós Rédei -- 8. Causal Markov, robustness and the quantum correlations; Mauricio Suárez, Iñaki San Pedro -- PART III: PROPENSITIES -- 9. Do dispositions and propensities have a role in the ontology of quantum mechanics? Some critical remarks; Mauro Dorato -- 10. Is the quantum world composed of propensitons?; Nicholas Maxwell -- 11. Derivative dispositions and multiple derivative levels; Ian Thompson.

This volume defends a novel approach to the philosophy of physics: it is the first book devoted to a comparative study of probability, causality, and propensity, and their various interrelations, within the context of contemporary physics -- particularly quantum and statistical physics. The philosophical debates and distinctions are firmly grounded upon examples from actual physics, thus exemplifying a robustly empiricist approach. The essays, by both prominent scholars in the field and promising young researchers, constitute a pioneer effort in bringing out the connections between probabilistic, causal and dispositional aspects of the quantum domain. The book will appeal to specialists in philosophy and foundations of physics, philosophy of science in general, metaphysics, ontology of physics theories, and philosophy of probability.

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