In the paper, the idea of describing not-yet-verified properties of quantum objects with logical many-valuedness is scrutinized. As it is argued, to promote such an idea, the following two foundational problems of many-valued quantum logic must be decided: the problem of choosing a proper system of many-valued logic and the problem of the emergence of bivalence from logical many-valuedness. Difficulties accompanying solutions of these problems are discussed.
Introducing logical many-valuedness in quantum mechanicsThe argument claiming that quantum theory could not be comprehended on the grounds of classical two-valued logic is rather straightforward and goes like this.Let us consider a typical quantum interference experiment where a quantum particle being released from a source is absorbed by a screen after passing through a two-slit barrier 1 . Suppose that immediately behind that barrier are placed two which-way detectors able to verify (e.g., by way of clicking) the particle's passage through a corresponding slit. Let X 1 denote the proposition of the click of the detector placed behind slit 1 such that X 1 is true (denoted by "1") if the detector clicks and X 1 is false (denoted by "0") if the detector does not. Let X 2 in an analogous manner denote the proposition of the signal from the detector placed behind slit 2.Assume that the propositions X 1 and X 2 are in possession of not-yet-verified truth values -i.e., ones existing before the detectors can click -that are merely revealed by the act of verification of the particle's passage.Within the given assumption, let us accept that such values of the propositions X 1 and X 2 are either 1 or 0. Accordingly, exclusive disjunction on these values of X 1 and X 2 can be decided by * Email : arkadyv@bgu.ac.il 1 In the present paper, rather than being strictly restricted to spatially arranged slits, quantum interference is considered generally for any set of perfectly distinguishable alternatives.