The status of the wave-function in Bohmian Mechanics

Abstract

Bohmian Mechanics (as presented in Dürr et al. 1992) is being regarded more and more as an attractive quantum theory because it provides a clear ontology, consisting of particles and one universal wave-function (Dürr et al 1992, Dürr et al. 1995). However, this is true only prima facie because the status of the wave-function remains controversial for several reasons (Belot 2012, Esfeld et al. 2014). In my talk I will show how the debate on the wave-function is leading to a completely new way of understanding not only the ontology of Bohmian Mechanics, but also the fundamental building blocks of any physical theory (the so called ‘primitive ontology’). In particular, I will discuss the dispositional approach, which regards the wave-function as a nomological entity grounded in one dispositional property instantiated by some ‘primitive stuff’ (Esfeld et al. 2014, Esfeld et al. 2015). In my conclusion I will point out the challenges and the problems that this approach has to face, and I will suggest that it cannot be regarded as a definitive and final solution to the question of the status of the wave-function.