The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our Lunch Time Talk. Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning or visit our live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.

LTT: Jacob Barandes

March 26 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT

Title: On Causal Locality in a Deflationary Account of Quantum Theory

Abstract: Quantum theory can be reformulated in terms of old-fashioned configuration spaces and ‘indivisible’ stochastic laws, without a fundamental role for Hilbert spaces, wave functions, density matrices, or even the complex numbers. After reviewing this axiomatically simpler and more transparent formulation, I will argue that it does not suffer from some of the major foundational problems of textbook quantum theory, like the measurement problem, and that it deflates various exotic claims about superposition, interference, and entanglement. I will also use this new formulation to introduce a microphysical definition of causal influences, which can be used to exploit loopholes in the existing no-go theorems, including Bell’s theorem, with potentially significant consequences for causal locality.

This talk will also be available on Zoom https://pitt.zoom.us/j/99341013372.