A logical analysis of Stapp's non-locality theorem

TL;DR

This paper critically analyzes Stapp's non-locality theorem using formal logic, concluding that the argument does not definitively prove Quantum Mechanics violates the Locality Principle.

Contribution

It provides a formal logical framework to evaluate Stapp's argument, challenging previous claims about quantum non-locality without relying on counterfactual logic.

Findings

Stapp's argument does not conclusively prove non-locality.

A formal logical analysis can clarify assumptions in quantum non-locality arguments.

The approach avoids counterfactual reasoning, offering a new perspective.

Abstract

According to an argument proposed by Stapp, Quantum Mechanics violates the Locality Principle if the two hypotheses of {\sl Free Choices} and {\sl No backward-in-time influence} are assumed to hold, without the need of introducing hidden variables or criteria of reality. We develop an approach that endows the new hypotheses with a logico-mathematical formulation which allow us to perform an analysis of Stapp's argument, based on ordinary, not counterfactual, logic. According to our results, the analyzed argument is not able to conclude that Quantum Mechanics violates the Locality Principle.