A Phenomenological Approach to Quantum Mechanics: The London-Bauer-French Interpretation
Guest editors: Philipp Berghofer & Harald A. Wiltsche
Submission deadline: November 30, 2024
Fritz London’s and Edmond Bauer’s 1939 monograph on the measurement process in quantum mechanics, entitled La Théorie de l’Observation en Mécanique Quantique, occupies a peculiar position in the history of 20th century physics. However, only recently it has been recognized that a comprehensive understanding of the London and Bauer monograph necessitates acknowledgment of the phenomenological underpinnings shaping London’s perspective. In his most recent book, A Phenomenological Approach to Quantum Mechanics: Cutting the Chain of Correlations, Steven French does exactly this by providing the larger philosophical context within which London and Bauer’s interpretation of the measurement problem must be seen. This is one of the first book-length attempts to systematically articulate a phenomenological interpretation of quantum physics. To critically engage with the London-Bauer-French interpretation, this special issue is centered around the following exemplary questions:
The details of LBF: How should the role of consciousness be understood? Does LBF imply non-local dynamics? What is the nature of the wave function and of quantum probabilities?
The relationship between LBF and other approaches: How does LBF relate to rival interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as the many-worlds interpretation, relational quantum mechanics, and QBism? How does LBF relate to the quantum reconstruction program?
The relationship between LBF and phenomenology: How should phenomenologists assess LBF? In particular, can it lead, as argued by French, to a completion of Husserl’s last major work, the Crisis?
The history of LBF: How did London’s phenomenological background shape his approach to science and quantum mechanics? What impact did London and Bauer have on Wigner and others? How does the work of London and Bauer relate to other non-mainstream approaches proposed at this time such as Grete Hermann’s neo-Kantian approach and the ideas of Hermann Weyl?
All relevant details about the submission process can be found at the journal webiste:
If you have any questions or inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
