Primitive Ontology, Fundamentality, and Scale

Emily Adlam

Published Jun 12, 2025• 0 citations

Abstract

Abstract This chapter introduces the ‘primitive ontology’ approaches to the measurement problem, including spontaneous collapse models and the de Brolige-Bohm approach. I consider some possible epistemic problems that could arise in a primitive ontology approach, but ultimately conclude that primitive ontology approaches do appear to solve the epistemic version of the measurement problem. However, I note that there are good reasons to think the existing primitive ontology approaches cannot be extended to quantum field theory, thus motivating a search for alternatives beyond the primitive ontology paradigm. I also discuss the role of autonomy of scales in physics.

DOI: 10.1093/9780197808887.003.0011

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