A Model of the Universe

Space-Time, Probability, and Decision

AvStorrs McCall

Inbunden, Engelska, 1994

Del i serien Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy

1 844 kr

Beställningsvara. Skickas inom 5-8 vardagar. Fri frakt över 249 kr.

Fler format och utgåvor

Häftad

556 kr

Beskrivning

Storrs McCall presents an original philosophical theory of the nature of the universe based on a striking new model of its space-time structure. He shows that this theory can illuminate a wide variety of hitherto unresolved philosophical problems. These include: the direction and flow of time; the nature of scientific laws; the interpretation of quantum mechanics; the definition of probability; counterfactual semantics; and the notions of identity, essential properties, deliberation, decision, and free will. A particular instance of the explanatory powers of the proposed space-time model is its account of quantum non-locality in the EPR and GHZ experiments.Professor McCall argues that the fact that the model explains and throws light on such a broad range of problems constitutes strong evidence that the universe is as the model portrays it.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:1994-02-03
Mått:164 x 242 x 23 mm
Vikt:615 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy
Antal sidor:338
Förlag:Clarendon Press
ISBN:9780198240532

Utforska kategorier

Recensioner i media

This wide-ranging book is McCall's most complete elaboration and defense of his long-held branching model of the universe, according to which the past and present of the universe at any time consists of a single space-time manifold (represented as the trunk of a tree) while the future at that time consists of a multiplicity of space-time manifolds (represented as the tree's branches) ... McCall's defense of his thesis is elegantly and concisely written, clear in its organization and development, and impressive in its scope

Innehållsförteckning

Part 1 The model; Part 2 The direction and flow of time: the direction of time; time flow - the mind-dependency theory; objective time flow; McTaggart's alleged proof of the inconsistency of the A-series; truth-conditions for temporal discourse; Cambridge change and real change. Part 3 Causation and laws of nature: the link between cause and effect; laws of nature; cosmology; scientific knowledge; three differing views - Armstrong, Dretske, and Tooley, Lewis and van Fraassen; branched laws. Part 4 An interpretation of quantum mechanics: quantum probabilities; quantum non-locality and the EPR experiment; the measurement problem; comparison with the many-worlds interpretation; indeterminism. Part 5 Probability: rival theories of probability; the "branched" definition of probability; a probability value for every event. Part 6 Conditionals: truth-values and probability values; "inferential", "degree of belief" and "possible world" analyses of counterfactuals; comparative similarity; two kinds of conditionals; semantics for type-A conditionals; type-B conditionals; summary on conditionals. Part 7 Individuals and identity: actualism and modal realism; individuals in the branched model; transtemporal identity; transworld identity; puzzle cases of identity. Part 8 Essential properties: the necessity of origin; naturals kinds. Part 9 Decision and free will: chance, deliberation and decision; deliberation-reasons and explanation-reasons; the causal theory of action; responsibility for decisions; indeterministic mechanisms which select their own future states; summing-up. Appendices: the topology of branched spaces; branched four-dimensional space-time; a branched picture of Mermin's EPR experiment; probabilities of conditionals defined as conditional probabilities.