CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2017
| Author | Fillmore-Patrick, Stella Grey |
|---|---|
| Title | What is wrong with action at a distance? |
| Summary | This thesis aims to legitimize the inclusion of action at a distance in scientific theories. I approach this task from two angles. In the first part, I show that action at a distance is a genuine metaphysical possibility. To do so, I examine how theorists in the history of science have justified their assumption of locality (and find these justifications inadequate), reconcile action at a distance with scientific explanation and show that it is not a threat to causation. In the second part, I consider an actual instance of action at a distance in nature: quantum nonlocality. Since action at a distance cannot be excluded through reason alone, if experience indicates action at a distance one may call it as such. I argue that action at a distance is the most viable theory by which to interpret quantum nonlocality. |
| Supervisor | Ben-Yami, Hanoch |
| Department | Philosophy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2017/fillmore_stella.pdf |
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