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Emergence and Quantum Mechanics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Frederick M. Kronz  and
Justin T. Tiehen
Frederick M. Kronz
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, The University of Texas at Austin
Justin T. Tiehen*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, The University of Texas at Austin
*
Send requests for reprints to one of the authors, Department of Philosophy, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712–1180; email: [email protected] or [email protected].
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Abstract

In a recent article Humphreys has developed an intriguing proposal for making sense of emergence. The crucial notion for this purpose is what he calls “fusion” and his paradigm for it is quantum nonseparability. In what follows, we will develop this position in more detail, and then discuss its ramifications and limitations. Its ramifications are quite radical; its limitations are substantial. An alternative approach to emergence that involves quantum physics is then proposed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 69 , Issue 2 , June 2002 , pp. 324 - 347
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

‡

We wish to thank Paul Humphreys for very helpful comments and suggestions on earlier versions of this essay. We also wish to thank two anonymous referees for Philosophy of Science for their helpful suggestions.

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