Armond Duwell: Understanding quantum theory

The speaker begins by expressing gratitude to the conference organizers and all individuals involved in making the event possible. They acknowledge the honor of being invited to speak at a conference dedicated to Jeff, whose work they greatly admire despite never agreeing on anything substantial. The speaker aims to explore new ideas regarding the understanding of quantum theory, hoping to find common ground with Jeff. They introduce the foundational issue in physics, questioning the nature of the world if a given theory is true, and the need for an interpretation to enhance the explanatory power of the theory, exemplified by the two-slit experiment.

The speaker discusses the connection between explanation and understanding in quantum mechanics. They challenge the 'simple view' of understanding, which equates understanding with grasping the actual explanation provided by a theory. Instead, they propose a broader conception of understanding that is not solely tied to explanation. The speaker aims to articulate a notion of 'modal understanding,' which involves navigating the possibility space associated with phenomena or theories, and understanding the relations and restrictions within this space.

The speaker elaborates on the concept of modal understanding, which involves knowing how to navigate the possibility space of phenomena or theories. This includes understanding how different representations relate to each other and how the phenomena or theories restrict the boundaries of these spaces. They emphasize the importance of 'know-how' in understanding, which is distinct from 'knowing that' and is a form of cognitive achievement that manifests in abilities such as inference, generalization, and asking hypothetical questions.

The speaker explores the relationship between modal understanding of phenomena and modal understanding of theories. They discuss how complete understanding of a theory can lead to partial understanding of phenomena and vice versa, using classical mechanics and quantum phenomena as examples. The speaker also addresses potential objections to their conception of understanding, arguing that it is a substantial and non-trivial view that acknowledges the cognitive effort required to achieve understanding.

The speaker addresses potential concerns about the broadness of the modal understanding concept, such as the possibility of trivializing understanding or the idea that false theories can provide understanding. They argue that adequacy conditions and the recognition that understanding comes in degrees can mitigate these concerns. The speaker also emphasizes that understanding is not about capturing the actual state of the world but rather the appearances and possibilities it presents.

The speaker applies the concept of modal understanding to various areas within quantum information theory, including pragmatic perspectives, the shift from interpretations to reconstructions, operational frameworks, and the use of foil theories. They discuss how each of these areas can facilitate understanding by providing new representations, exploring relationships between models, and investigating the boundaries of possibility spaces.

The speaker delves into the role of representations and adequacy conditions in the pursuit of understanding. They argue for a permissive view of what constitutes a representation, suggesting that it need not be tied to traditional interpretations. The speaker also discusses how adequacy conditions can influence the space of possibilities and the importance of exploring different representations and their relationships to gain a deeper understanding of phenomena and theories.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of navigating the space of theories and phenomena to achieve a comprehensive understanding. They suggest that a broader framework that can describe more theories and phenomena is more conducive to understanding than a narrow one. The speaker also highlights the value of understanding the interrelations between different axiomatic systems and how they fit together to form a coherent whole.

In conclusion, the speaker presents modal understanding as a versatile framework for exploring and gaining insights into quantum theory. They argue that this approach, which focuses on navigating the space of possibilities and understanding the relationships between representations, is more aligned with the diverse activities and goals of researchers in the field of quantum foundations. The speaker invites feedback and discussion on this framework, aiming to foster a deeper and more inclusive understanding of quantum phenomena and theories.