Can we consider quantum mechanics to be a description of reality?

Hervé Zwirn

pp. 209-217

in: Lena Soler, Howard Sankey, Paul Hoyningen-Huene (eds), Rethinking scientific change and theory comparison, Berlin, Springer, 2008

Abstract

The paper deals with the status of Quantum Mechanics as a description of reality when quantum formalism is supplemented with the decoherence mechanism. The reasons why it is often argued that Quantum Mechanics provides nothing more than a description of the appearance of reality are examined. Then, through a comparison with Relativistic Mechanics, it is showed that, were the very notion of reality not questionable, it would be possible to support the idea that it provides a description of this reality and not only of its appearance.