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Interpreting Science

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2022

Arthur Fine
Arthur Fine*
Affiliation:
Northwestern University
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Extract

In the quantum theory the state of an evolving system is represented by a function that depends on time and perhaps on some other parameters. It is generally called the “psi-function”, and it evolves according to an equation called the Schrödinger equation. Indeed Schrödinger introduced the psi-function into physics. In the beginning (i.e., in 1926) Schrödinger thought that the psi-function referred to a fuzzy bit of reality. That is, he pictured an electron, whose state was given by a certain psi-function, as a pulsating bit of electricity, something like an electrical cloud or a patch of electrical fog. In short order, however, Schrödinger saw difficulties with this interpretation, and after trying out more sophisticated refinements he abandoned the whole project. What he abandoned was the program of trying to interpret the psi-function as directly representing some spatiotemporal features of the object whose state it characterized.

Type
Part I. Presidential Address
Information
PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association , Volume 1988 , Issue 2: Volume Two: Symposia and Invited Papers 1988 , 1988 , pp. 2 - 11
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

1

An earlier version of this paper was read at a conference on the autonomy of philosophy of science held at the University of Virginia. I want to thank the participants there, and especially Paul Humphreys, for useful comments.

References

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