In Defense of the Metaphysics of Entanglement
Quantum entanglement has long been thought to have deep metaphysical consequences. For example, it has been claimed to show that Humeansupervenience is false or to involve a novel form of ontological holism. One way to avoid confronting the metaphysical consequences is to adopt some form of antirealism. This chapter discusses two prominent strands in recent literature—wavefunction realism and “Super-Humeanism”—which appear quite different but, as the authors see it, are instances of a more general strategy. In effect, what these attempt to do is to diffuse the puzzle of entanglement by eliminating it. These interpretative movements are advertised as equally realist, but, the chapter claims, fail to take an appropriately realist attitude towards entanglement. What the chapter advocates instead is a genuine metaphysics of entanglement: instead of eliminating entanglement, develop a metaphysics that accounts for and explains it.