[News] Gal Ben Porath, "The kinematics of indeterminism" - Physics meets Philosophy

Dear all, You are hereby invited to the next "Physics meets Philosophy" talk (organized in cooperation with the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information) by Gal Ben Porath (University of Bonn) Title: The kinematics of indeterminism (see abstract below) Date: April 24th (Friday) Time: 11:00-12:30 Location: IQOQI Seminar room (Boltzmanngasse 3, 2nd floor) Zoom link (for those that cannot join in person): https://univienna.zoom.us/j/61334139090?pwd=OHqUQNmVwbfI9d7b80Z7k2cCXJiXNS.1 Abstract: Discussions of determinism and indeterminism of physical theories usually focus on properties of dynamical laws (e.g., uniqueness of solution). This is perfectly adequate in all the usual cases. However, when considering speculative models that seek to introduce fundamental indeterminism into physics, such discussions are unsatisfying. The unusual ontological roles attributed to indeterministic changes by the authors of such models, require them to have unusual kinematical features. I will examine these desired roles and point to their problematic nature. I will then suggest recognizing the occurrence of jump discontinuities as the distinguishing feature of indeterministic kinematics and explore some consequences of such a recognition. For more information on "Physics meets Philosophy", see https://sites.google.com/view/physphilvienna Best wishes Sebastian