The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science

Conspiracy Theories of Quantum Mechanics

Peter J. Lewis

Published Apr 12, 2006• 37 citations

Abstract

It has long been recognized that a local hidden variable theory of quantum mechanics can in principle be constructed, provided one is willing to countenance pre-measurement correlations between the properties of measured systems and measuring devices. However, this ‘conspiratorial’ approach is typically dismissed out of hand. In this article I examine the justification for dismissing conspiracy theories of quantum mechanics. I consider the existing arguments against such theories, and find them to be less than conclusive. I suggest a more powerful argument against the leading strategy for constructing a conspiracy theory. Finally, I outline two alternative strategies for constructing conspiracy theories, both of which are immune to these arguments, but require one to either modify or reject the common cause principle. 1. Introduction 2. The incompleteness of quantum mechanics 3. Hidden variables 4. Hidden mechanism conspiracy theories 5. Existing arguments against hidden mechanisms 6. A new argument against hidden mechanisms 7. Backwards-causal conspiracy theories 8. Acausal conspiracy theories 9. Conclusion

DOI: 10.1093/bjps/axl006

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