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Tim Maudlin
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Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity: Metaphysical Intimations of Modern Physics, Second Edition 2nd Edition

by Tim Maudlin (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 14 ratings
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Modern physics was born from two great revolutions: relativity and the quantum theory. Relativity imposed a locality constraint on physical theories: since nothing can go faster than light, very distant events cannot influence one another. Only in the last few decades has it become clear that the quantum theory violates this constraint. The work of J.S. Bell has demonstrated that no local theory can return the predictions of quantum theory. Thus it would seem that the central pillars of modern physics are contradictory.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0631232214
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0631232216
  3. Edition
    2nd
  4. Publisher
    Wiley-Blackwell
  5. Publication date
    February 11, 2002
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 0.91 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    296 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Maudlin's book is outstanding, and is particularly remarkable for three central achievements: the clearest exposition of Bell's theorem I know of; a careful discussion of the (in)compatibility between the implications of that theorem and relativity; and astute suggestions for how one could deal with this problem. Maudlin is a professional philosopher who writes on this most fundamental issue of physics in a way that is far clearer than the work of most physicists."
–Jean Bricmont, University of Louvain

From the Back Cover

Modern physics was born from two great revolutions: relativity and quantum theory. Relativity imposed a locality constraint on physical theories: since nothing can go faster than light, very distant events cannot influence one another. Only in the last few decades has it become clear that quantum theory violates this constraint. The work of J. S. Bell has demonstrated that no local theory can return the predictions of quantum theory. Thus it would seem that the central pillars of modern physics are contradictory.

Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity examines the nature and possible resolution of this conflict. Beginning with accurate but non-technical presentations of Bell's work and of Special Relativity, there follows a close examination of different interpretations of relativity and of the sort of locality each demands. The story continues with a brief discussion of the General Theory of Relativity. This second edition also includes a new author's preface and an additional appendix.

The book introduces philosophers to the relevant physics and demonstrates how philosophical analysis can help to resolve some of the problems. All of the physics is presented from first principles, and as much as possible is presented pictorially.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley-Blackwell; 2nd edition (February 11, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0631232214
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0631232216
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.91 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 14 ratings

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Tim Maudlin

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
14 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bill
5.0 out of 5 stars Trying to reconcile what are apparently different levels of reality.
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2010
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Maudlin's book is wonderful for someone interested in getting a concise, non-technical survey of the literature landscape of how in the world, do we reconcile the non-locality of quantum mechanics with the tenets of relativity, namely, the relativity of simultaneity.

Professor Maudlin illustrates the heart of the Bell Inequalities with a straightforward example using simple logic. It's a treat to read through, and the clearest treatment of Bell's theorem I've ever seen.

The book ends with a question mark, but in getting there, it takes us on a non-mathematical journey into the heart of the problem: At the macro level of reality, locality appears to rule, but yet, at the micro level of reality -- the realm of quantum mechanics -- non-locality rules.

Go figure?
One person found this helpful
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Lydia
5.0 out of 5 stars Maudlin. A Great Teacher
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2006
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In this delightful read, Maudlin goes through an array of topics revolving around non-locality, relativity, and the mathematics involved. However, although I didn't find any "new" ideas in the text, I was amazed at how quickly & clearly he explained the said topics. Without exaggerating, in 80 pages of this book I attained what had taken me an entire stack of now useless books on quantum physics (particularly Bell's theorem), relativity, linear algebra, and philosophy(don't read Philosophy of Physics by Lange, you'll get it all out of this)

Anyone who has a prior introduction to Quantum theory will love this. I'd suggest Quantum Reality by Herbert, But there are lots of good ones out there.
28 people found this helpful
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U Dream
3.0 out of 5 stars Down the gopher hole.
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2010
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I must admit that my criticism probably says more about me than the book, but I found it impossible to follow his arguments. His summaries of Relativity theory and Quantum mechanics were helpful and the best parts of the book. Here he explained details not covered in most of the books I've read on the subjects. If other readers found his arguments clear, I guess I'll have to chalk up my confusion to creeping senility. The book left me feeling that the revolution of the New Physics is a disaster of contradictions, vagueness, and irrationality. With the profusion of "go-for-broke" mini-theories to account for all the problems with RT and QT, I get the impression that theoretical physicists are reincarnations of Greek steam bath philosophers spouting forth untestable theories. Is this all a futile exercise in hyperplane epistemics?
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Very clear discussion of Bell's Theorem
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2008
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This contains the clearest presentation of the evidence for non-locality that I've seen. The other chapters on the implications of this are a little more challenging but worth it.
6 people found this helpful
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars A lucid survey of the implications of Bell's Theorem
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2002
It's no coincidence that those writing the clearest books in the philosophy of physics are also those doing the best work in the field. Maudlin's book is a perfect example of this. It is also remarkably self-sufficient, providing a review of special relativity, and a brief and lucid presentation of the foundations of quantum mechanics in the appendix. As a result, it should be readable by anyone with a high school education. Those already familiar with the physics and/or the issues may want to skip parts, though I should note that I found a couple hidden gems regarding things I was unfamiliar with or mistaken about even in the introductory sections.
The bulk of the book examines whether and to what extent quantum mechanics entails four superluminal phenomena often taken to be ruled out by relativity: superluminal matter transport, superluminal signaling, superluminal causation and superluminal information transfer. Maudlin convincingly argues that only the latter two of these are entailed by quantum phenomena. The book ends with an critical examination of the various theories put forward to circumvent these difficulties, and provides a brief discussion of how these issues hold up when we move to General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory.
55 people found this helpful
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Travis Norsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Crystal Clear
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2005
There are many books which discuss the issue of quantum non-locality and discuss its connections to relativity theory. The vast majority of them, however, are either un-serious popular pap, or serious tomes written by professional philosophers who are at least as confused as the authors of the pap.

Maudlin's book stands out like a beacon of light in this fog of confusion and muddle-headedness. It is accessible to anyone with a basic high-school education in math and physics, yet surpasses the vast majority of technical papers on this subject in depth, clarity, and (most importantly) correctness. If you want to understand the issue of non-locality that makes some people worry so much about quantum theory and its consistency with relativity, read this book -- study this book -- and this holds whether you are a Joe Schmoe off the street or a famous Professor from (say) Boston University.
36 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Mr. Paul Sutton
5.0 out of 5 stars Undecided
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2011
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I haven't got around to reading this yet. At the moment, more local things are more pressing. Ask me again in about six months.
One person found this helpful
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Ken Duckworth
2.0 out of 5 stars An annoying book
Reviewed in Canada on October 25, 2013
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If the reader can get past the writer's pompous use of obscure vocabulary this might be a valuable book. It purports to be the best explanation of Bell's Theorem yet published. It isnt; and I doubt that John Bell would have been happy with this exploration of his mind. Not recommended.
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