Philosophy 126

This course will focus on the foundations of quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is arguably the most predictively successful theory ever devised, but also the most mysterious and counter-intuitive. We will explore some ways of understanding it, and the philosophical problems that these interpretations raise. Topics include: the orthodox interpretation, the measurement problem, non-locality, entanglement, the collapse of the wavefunction, the many worlds interpretation, the nature of probability, the metaphysics of the wavefunction, and recovering the “manifest image” from the theory.

We will follow David Albert’s book Quantum Mechanics and Experience, which I recommend that you purchase if you can. The necessary physics will be presented from scratch, but solid high school physics and mathematics and at least one previous philosophy course is strongly recommended.

As taught this semester, Phil 126, can satisfy group A of the Epistemology/Metaphysics requirement.