QBism, Where Next?

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Author: Fuchs, Christopher A
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 10.03.2023
• Subjects: Physics - Quantum Physics; Quantum theory
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2303.01446

This paper expresses what a breath of fresh air it has been since a few phenomenological philosophers have started to engage with QBism. In service of the newfound discussion, the aim of this exposition is to lay out the structure of QBism as clearly as possible for that audience. In the process, we arrive at eight tenets for QBism: 1) A quantum state is an agent's personal judgment. 2) A quantum measurement is an agent's action upon its external world. 3) Quantum measurement outcomes are personal to the agent performing the action. 4) The quantum formalism is normative rather than descriptive. 5) Unitary evolution too expresses an agent's degrees of belief. 6) Even probability-one assignments are judgments without ontic content. 7) Subjective certainty about what an outcome will be does not negate that unperformed measurements have no outcomes. And, 8) quantum theory is a single-user theory for each of us. We then analyze the Wigner's friend thought experiment in light of the eight tenets and indicate that a still more extended analysis is potentially QBism's surest path to uncovering an ontology to go with quantum theory's normative structure. We conclude with a small discussion of how the philosophy of Maurice Merleau-Ponty may be relevant to this quest.