On a Symmetry Argument for the Guidance Equation in Bohmian Mechanics
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Skow_On a.pdf
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Author(s)
Skow, Bradford
Date Issued
February 2011
Journal
International Studies in the Philosophy of Science
Publisher
Informa UK (Taylor & Francis)
Citation
Skow, Bradford. “On a Symmetry Argument for the Guidance Equation in Bohmian Mechanics.” International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 24.4 (2010): 393–410.
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Bohmian mechanics faces an underdetermination problem: when it comes to solving the measurement problem, alternatives to the Bohmian guidance equation work just as well as the official guidance equation. Dürr, Goldstein, and Zanghì have argued that of the candidate guidance equations, the official guidance equation is the simplest Galilean‐invariant candidate. This symmetry argument—if it worked—would solve the underdetermination problem. But the argument does not work. It fails because it rests on assumptions about how Galilean transformations (especially boosts) act on the wavefunction that are (in this context) unwarranted. My discussion has larger morals about the physical significance of certain mathematical results (like, for example, Wigner’s theorem) in non‐orthodox interpretations of quantum mechanics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Linguistics and Philosophy
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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1080/02698595.2010.543350
