Perspectivist account of truth-theoretic semantics in quantum mechanics

According to various no-go results in the foundations of quantum mechanics, for any system associated to a Hilbert space of dimension higher than two, it is not possible to assign definite truth values to all propositions pertaining to the system without generating a Kochen-Specker contradiction. In this respect, the Bub-Clifton uniqueness theorem is utilized for arguing that truth-value definiteness is consistently restored with respect to a determinate sublattice of propositions defined by the state of the quantum system concerned and a particular observable to be measured. On this basis, a perspectivist/contextual account of truth valuation in the quantum domain is produced that satisfies Tarski’s criterion of material adequacy for a theory of truth. In light of the latter, perspectivist truth conforms to perspective or context-bound correspondence of a de re nature, designating locally an objectively existing state of affairs. Such an account derives by virtue of the microphysical nature of physical reality in displaying a context-dependence of facts; thus, it essentially opposes a non-perspectival, metaphysically fixed point of reference, or a panoptical standpoint from which to state all facts of nature.

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Publication Details

Journal
European Journal for Philosophy of Science
Published
2026-02-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-026-00725-0
Primary Topic
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Type
article
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article

Perspectivist account of truth-theoretic semantics in quantum mechanics

Vassilios Karakostas
European Journal for Philosophy of Science
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
article

Perspectivist account of truth-theoretic semantics in quantum mechanics

Vassilios Karakostas
article en

Abstract

According to various no-go results in the foundations of quantum mechanics, for any system associated to a Hilbert space of dimension higher than two, it is not possible to assign definite truth values to all propositions pertaining to the system without generating a Kochen-Specker contradiction. In this respect, the Bub-Clifton uniqueness theorem is utilized for arguing that truth-value definiteness is consistently restored with respect to a determinate sublattice of propositions defined by the state of the quantum system concerned and a particular observable to be measured. On this basis, a perspectivist/contextual account of truth valuation in the quantum domain is produced that satisfies Tarski’s criterion of material adequacy for a theory of truth. In light of the latter, perspectivist truth conforms to perspective or context-bound correspondence of a de re nature, designating locally an objectively existing state of affairs. Such an account derives by virtue of the microphysical nature of physical reality in displaying a context-dependence of facts; thus, it essentially opposes a non-perspectival, metaphysically fixed point of reference, or a panoptical standpoint from which to state all facts of nature.

European Journal for Philosophy of ScienceVol. 16(1)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
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Openalex Percentile: Top 46%
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
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Perspectivist account of truth-theoretic semantics in quantum mechanics — Vassilios Karakostas · European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS