Talk: Alyssa Ney

Fundamental Physical Ontologies and the Constraint of Empirical Coherence

Abstract:

Several authors (Healey 2002, Maudlin 2007) have argued for an empirical coherence constraint on fundamental physical theories – theories must include among their ontologies the types of entities that constitute the evidence used to justify them. The constraint is used to eliminate certain theories as viable, in particular, wave function realist versions of quantum mechanics (e.g. of Albert 1996, 2013). This paper defends these versions of quantum mechanics against the charge of empirical incoherence.

Professor Ney is in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Rochester. She works in metaphysics, philosophy of physics, and philosophy of mind.