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The foundations of probability and quantum mechanics

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Abstract

Taking as starting point two familiar interpretations of probability, we develop these in a perhaps unfamiliar way to arrive ultimately at an improbable claim concerning the proper axiomatization of probability theory: the domain of definition of a point-valued probability distribution is an orthomodular partially ordered set. Similar claims have been made in the light of quantum mechanics but here the motivation is intrinsically probabilistic. This being so the main task is to investigate what light, if any, this sheds on quantum mechanics. In particular it is important to know under what conditions these point-valued distributions can be thought of as derived from distribution-pairs of upper and lower probabilities on boolean algebras. Generalising known results this investigation unsurprisingly proves unrewarding. In the light of this failure the next topic investigated is how these generalized probability distributions are to be interpreted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, WC1E 7HX, London, UK

    Peter Milne

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  1. Peter Milne
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Milne, P. The foundations of probability and quantum mechanics. J Philos Logic 22, 129–168 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049259

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049259

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