From Time Asymmetry to Quantum Entanglement: The Humean Unification

TL;DR

The paper proposes a Humean unified theory explaining both the arrow of time and quantum entanglement, integrating the Past Hypothesis and the Statistical Postulate into a simple, non-vague best system that clarifies quantum ontology and time asymmetry.

Contribution

It introduces the Humean unification, a novel approach that unifies explanations of time asymmetry and quantum phenomena within a simplified, ontologically clear framework.

Findings

Provides a unified explanation for time asymmetry and quantum entanglement.

Achieves a simpler, non-vague best system with less tension between quantum mechanics and relativity.

Offers new insights into quantum ontology and the nature of time's arrow.

Abstract

Two of the most difficult problems in the foundations of physics are (1) what gives rise to the arrow of time and (2) what the ontology of quantum mechanics is. I propose a unified 'Humean' solution to the two problems. Humeanism allows us to incorporate the Past Hypothesis and the Statistical Postulate into the best system, which we then use to simplify the quantum state of the universe. This enables us to confer the nomological status to the quantum state in a way that adds no significant complexity to the best system and solves the "supervenient-kind problem" facing the original version of the Past Hypothesis. We call the resultant theory the Humean unification. It provides a unified explanation of time asymmetry and quantum entanglement. On this theory, what gives rise to time's arrow is also responsible for quantum phenomena. The new theory has a separable mosaic, a best system that is simple and non-vague, less tension between quantum mechanics and special relativity, and a higher degree of theoretical and dynamical unity. The Humean unification leads to new insights that can be useful to Humeans and non-Humeans alike.