Extending the agent in QBism

DOI10.1007/S10701-020-00375-ZzbMATH Open1455.81005arXiv2004.14847OpenAlexW3022984753MaRDI QIDQ828405FDOQ828405

Authors: Jacques Pienaar 

Publication date: 8 January 2021

Published in: Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: According to the subjective Bayesian interpretation of quantum mechanics (QBism), the instruments used to measure quantum systems are to be regarded as an extension of the senses of the agent who is using them, and quantum states describe the agent's expectations for what they will experience through these extended senses. How can QBism then account for the fact that (i) instruments must be calibrated before they can be used to `sense' anything; (ii) some instruments are more precise than others; (iii) more precise instruments can lead to discovery of new systems? Furthermore, is the agent `incoherent' if they prefer to use a less precise instrument? Here we provide answers to these questions.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.14847

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zbMATH Keywords

quantum informationquantum foundationsquantum measurement

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Bayesian inference (62F15) Empirical decision procedures; empirical Bayes procedures (62C12) General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15)

Cites Work

• Equivalent Comparisons of Experiments
• Causality. Models, reasoning, and inference
• Unknown quantum states: The quantum de Finetti representation
• Subjective Probability
• Quantum Bayesianism as the basis of general theory of decision-making

Cited In (4)

• Convivial solipsism as a maximally perspectival interpretation
• Phenomenology, perspectivalism and (quantum) physics
• A phenomenology of identity: Qbism and quantum (non-)particles
• QBism and relational quantum mechanics compared

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