Course Descriptions

There is no question that quantum mechanics is empirically successful. What the theory says about the world remains controversial. In this course, we will look at different theories of quantum mechanics and examine a range of philosophical issues that arise for them. Topics include the measurement problem; quantum nonlocality; the ontological status of the wavefunction; the nature of probability; compatibility of quantum mechanics with relativity; theoretical equivalence. The primary goal of the course is to cover the background necessary to follow current philosophical debates, particularly in the metaphysics of quantum mechanics, at a level aimed at students without prior exposure to quantum mechanics, who have had some high school physics and mathematics.