Professor, Logic and Philosophy of Science
UC Irvine Chancellor's Fellow
Senior Fellow, University of Konstanz (2011-12)
Editor-in-Chief, Philosophy of Science

Research Interests

I am interested in attempts to resolve the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. The measurement problem arises from the fact that the standard theory's two dynamical laws are incompatible: one is linear and the other nonlinear. Since they constitute contradictory descriptions of the time-evolution of physical states, they threaten to render the standard theory logically inconsistent if one is unable to specify strictly disjoint conditions for when each applies. The theory tells us that the linear dynamics is to be used in all situations except when a measurement is made in which case the nonlinear collapse dynamics is to be used; but since it does not tell us what constitutes a measurement, we do not know when to apply the linear dynamics and when to apply the collapse dynamics. I am particularly interested in solutions to the measurement problem that drop the collapse dynamics altogether.

Recently, I have been working with Peter Byrne to organize the newly discovered Hugh Everett III manuscripts concerning his relative-state (or, less accurately, many-worlds) formulation of quantum mechanics. Many of these manuscripts can now be found at the UCIspace Everett Archive at http://ucispace.lib.uci.edu/handle/10575/1060. The companion volume of papers and commentary is forthcoming with Princeton University Press this Winter.

I am currently using evolutionary game theory to model inquiry. In particular, I have been modeling the coevolution of descriptive language and predictive theory in the context of Skyrms-Lewis sender-receiver games. Such models show how it is possible for agents with very simple prior dispositions, and no conceptual resources, to evolve from random, meaningless signaling and inaccurate predictive dispositions to a meaningful descriptive language and reliable predictive theory.

For something completely different, Wayne Aitken and I have developed an algorithmic logic for statements of the form "Algorithm A outputs X when given input Z". It is a feature of the logic that logical connectives and quantifiers are algorithmically defined. This has led to our research on the structure of the Curry Paradox and the limits of modus ponens as a valid rule of inference. Studying models for such logics led to the paper on the physical possibility of transfinite cardinal computation.

Select Publications

• Barrett, J. A. (2012) "The Evolution of Simple Rule-Following" Forthcoming in Skyrms and Hutteger eds.
• Barrett, J. A. (2012) "The Quantum Measurement Problem and the Everett Interpretation" Berfrois.
• Barrett, J. A. and Peter Byrne (2012) The Everett Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: Collected Works 1955-1980 with Commentary, Princeton University Press.
• Barrett, J. A. (2012) "On the Coevolution of Basic Arithmetic Language and Knowledge" Forthcoming in Erkenntnis.
• Barrett, J. A. (2011) “On the Coevolution of Theory and Language and the Nature of Successful Inquiry” Forthcoming in Erkenntnis.
• Barrett, J. A. (2011) “Everett's Pure Wave Mechanics and the Notion of Worlds” European Journal for Philosophy of Science 1 (2):277-302. doi: 10.1007/s13194-011-0023-9.
• Barrett, J. A. (2011) “On the Faithful Interpretation of Pure Wave Mechanics” British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. First published online June 2011 doi: 10.1093/bjps/axr004.
• Barrett, J. A. (2010) “A Structural Interpretation of Pure Wave Mechanics” Humana.Mente 13: 225-236.
• Barrett, J. A. and W. Aitken (2010) “A Note on the Physical Possibility of Ordinal Computation,” British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 61(4): 867-874. See Barrett, J.A. and W. Aitken (2009) “On the Physical Possibility of Ordinal Computation” for an extended version of the argument.
• Barrett, J.A. (2009) "Faithful description and the incommensurability of evolved languages," Philosophical Studies 147: 123-137.
• Barrett, J. A. (2009) “The Evolution of Coding in Signaling Games,” Theory and Decision 67: 223-237.
• Barrett, J. A. and K. Zollman (2008) “The Role of Forgetting in the Evolution and Learning of Language,” Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence 21(4): 293-309.
• Barrett, J. A. (2008) “Approximate Truth and Descriptive Nesting,” Erkenntnis 68: 213-24.
• Barrett, J. A. (2008) “Wigner’s Friend and Bell’s Field Beables”.
• Barrett, J. A. (2007) “Dynamic Partitioning and the Conventionality of Kinds,” Philosophy of Science 74: 527-46.
• Aitken W. and J. A. Barrett (2007) “Abstraction in Algorithmic Logic,” Journal of Philosophical Logic 37: 23-43.
• Aitken W. and J. A. Barrett (2007) “Stability and Paradox in Algorithmic Logic,” Journal of Philosophical Logic, 36(1): 61-95.
• Barrett, J. A. (2006) “Numerical Simulations of the Lewis Signaling Game: Learning Strategies, Pooling Equilibria, and the Evolution of Grammar,” Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences. Paper 54. http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/54
• Barrett, J. A. (2006) “A Quantum-Mechanical Argument for Mind-Body Dualism,” Erkenntnis, 65(1): 97-115.
• Barrett, J. A. (2005) “Relativistic Quantum Mechanics Through Frame-Dependent Constructions,” Philosophy of Science. 72: 802–813.
• Barrett, J. A. (2005) “The Preferred Basis Problem and the Quantum Mechanics of Everything,” British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. 56(2): 199-220.
• Barrett, J. A. and Aitken W. (2004) “Stability and Paradox in Algorithmic Logic”.
• Barrett, J. A. (2004) “Relativistic Quantum Mechanics Through Frame-Dependent Constructions” forthcoming in Philosophy of Science.
• Barrett, J. A. and Aitken W. (2004) “Computer Implication and the Curry Paradox” forthcoming in the Journal of Philosophical Logic.
• Barrett, J. A. (2004) “Many-Worlds and Many-Minds Formulations of Quantum Mechanics” forthcoming in the Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• Barrett, J. A. (2004) “The Preferred Basis Problem and the Quantum Mechanics of Everything” forthcoming in BJPS.
• Barrett, J. A. (2004) “On the Cognitive Status of our Best Physical Theories”.
• Barrett, J. A. and P. K. Stanford (2004) “Prediction” forthcoming in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• Barrett, J. A. (2003) “Are Our Best Physical Theories Probably and/or Approximately True?” Philosophy of Science.70: 1206-1218.
• Livingston, P. and J. A. Barrett (2003) “Pure Pragmatics and the Transcendence of Belief”
• Barrett, J. A. (2003) "Everett's Relative-State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics," in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• Barrett, J. A. and F. Arntzenius (2002) “Why the Infinite Decision Puzzle is Puzzling,” Theory and Decision 52(2): 139-147.
• Barrett, J. A. (2002) “The Nature of Measurement Records in Relativistic Quantum Field Theory,” in M. Kuhlman, H. Lyre, and A. Wayne (eds.) Ontological Aspects of Quantum Field Theory, World Scientific, Singapore (2002).
• Barrett, J. A. (2001) “Toward a Pragmatic Account of Scientific Knowledge”
• Barrett, J. A. (2000) “The Persistence of Memory: Surreal Trajectories in Bohm’s Theory,” Philosophy of Science 67(4): 680-703.
• Barrett, J. A. (1999) The Quantum Mechanics of Minds and Worlds, Oxford University Press: Oxford.
• Barrett, J. A. (1998) "The Bare Theory and How to Fix It," in The Modal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, D. G. B. J. Dieks and P. E. Vermaas (eds), Kluwer Academic Press (1998).
• Barrett, J. A. and F. Arntzenius (1998) "An Infinite Decision Puzzle," Theory and Decision 46(1): 101-103.
• Barrett, J. A. (1998) "On the Nature of Experience in the Bare Theory," Synthese 113(3): 347-55.
• Barrett, J. A. (1997) "On Everett's Formulation of Quantum Mechanics," Monist, 80(1): 70-96.
• Barrett, J. A. (1996) "Oracles, Aesthetics, and Bayesian Consensus," Philosophy of Science, 63(3): 273-280.
• Barrett, J. A. (1996) "Empirical Adequacy and the Availability of Reliable Records in Quantum Mechanics," Philosophy of Science, 63(1): 49-64.
• Barrett, J. A. (1995) "The Single-Mind and Many-Minds Versions of Quantum Mechanics," Erkenntnis 42: 89-105.
• Barrett, J. A. (1995) "The Distribution Postulate in Bohm's Theory," Topoi, 14(1): 45-54.
• Barrett, J. A. and D. Z. Albert (1995) "On What It Takes to Be a World," Topoi, 14(1): 35-37.
• Barrett, J. A. (1995) "Quantum Mechanics and the Measurement Problem-- Introduction," Topoi, 14(1): 1-6.
• Barrett, J. A. (1994) "The Suggestive Properties of the Bare Theory of Quantum Mechanics," Erkenntnis 41: 233-252.