X-Message-Number: 8297
From: "Peter C. McCluskey" <>
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 20:50:57 -0700
Subject: QM, omega point, etc.
References: <>

>From: "Perry E. Metzger" <>

>Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to me that Bell's Theorem
>makes hidden variable theories impossible.

 You are wrong. To quote Huw Price (in Time's Arrow, p. 216):

      Bell's Theorem establishes that in order to explain what quantum
    mechanics predicts about EPR cases, a hidden variable theory would
    need to be nonlocal.
      ...
      Morover, since complete description views also seem to embody
    nonlocality, it can hardly be held up as a decisive objection to
    the hidden variable approach. The right conclusion seems to be that
    to the extent that nonlocality is a defect, both views are equally at
    fault; while to the extent that it is not a defect, Bell's Theorem
    does nothing to undermine the hidden variable approach.
      If the case against hidden variables is any stronger than this, it
    must rest on the claim that nonlocality is more problematic for
    Einstein's hidden variable approach than for its Copenhagen opponents.
    It is difficult to see why this should be so. No doubt it is true that
    those on Einstein's side of the debate have been more troubled by
    nonlocality than their opponents, but I think this is only because
    the Copenhagen view has tended to be protected by the comfortable
    cushion of obscurity which surrounds its commitments concerning the
    nature of reality.

(Price has a very interesting argument that if we just assume that at
the quantum level an interaction between 2 particles causes them to be
correlated before the interaction as well as after (i.e. don't assume
causality is temporaly assymetric), then there isn't anything surprising
about things like Bell's Theorem).

 Note also that John Bell never abandonded hidden variable theories after
demonstrating his theorem. He favored Bohm's interpretation.
-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter McCluskey |                        | "Don't blame me. I voted
 | http://www.rahul.net/pcm | for Kodos." - Homer Simpson
 | http://www.quote.com     | 

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