On universality of classical probability with contextually labeled random variables: response to A. Khrennikov

DOI10.1016/J.JMP.2018.12.002zbMATH Open1426.81001arXiv1812.04721OpenAlexW2904795579WikidataQ128454606 ScholiaQ128454606MaRDI QIDQ2332819FDOQ2332819

Authors: Ehtibar N. Dzhafarov, Maria Kon 

Publication date: 5 November 2019

Published in: Journal of Mathematical Psychology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In his constructive and well-informed commentary, Andrei Khrennikov acknowledges a privileged status of classical probability theory with respect to statistical analysis. He also sees advantages offered by the Contextuality-by-Default theory, notably, that it `demystifies quantum mechanics by highlighting the role of contextuality,' and that it can detect and measure contextuality in inconsistently connected systems. He argues, however, that classical probability theory may have difficulties in describing empirical phenomena if they are described entirely in terms of observable events. We disagree: contexts in which random variables are recorded are as observable as the variables' values. Khrennikov also argues that the Contextuality-by-Default theory suffers the problem of non-uniqueness of couplings. We disagree that this is a problem: couplings are all possible ways of imposing counterfactual joint distributions on random variables that de facto are not jointly distributed. The uniqueness of modeling experiments by means of quantum formalisms brought up by Khrennikov is achieved for the price of additional, substantive assumptions. This is consistent with our view of quantum theory as a special-purpose generator of classical probabilities. Khrennikov raises the issue of `mental signaling,' by which he means inconsistent connectedness in behavioral systems. Our position is that it is as inherent to behavioral systems as their stochasticity.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1812.04721

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zbMATH Keywords

random variablescontextualityclassical probabilitycontextual labelingquantum formalisms

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Contextuality in quantum theory (81P13) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15)

Cites Work

• CHSH inequality: quantum probabilities as classical conditional probabilities
• Contextual approach to quantum formalism
• Is there contextuality in behavioural and social systems?
• Nonlocality as well as rejection of realism are only sufficient (but non-necessary!) conditions for violation of Bell's inequality
• Contextuality from Quantum Physics to Psychology
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• On universality of classical probability with contextually labeled random variables

Cited In (3)

• Classical versus quantum probability: comments on the paper ``On universality of classical probability with contextually labeled random variables by E. Dzhafarov and M. Kon
• On universality of classical probability with contextually labeled random variables
• Stochastic unrelatedness, couplings, and contextuality

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