Agents in Healey’s Pragmatist Quantum Theory: A Comparison with Pitowsky’s Approach to Quantum Mechanics

In a series of related papers and in a book (Healey R. The quantum revolution in philosophy. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2017b), Richard Healey has proposed and articulated a new pragmatist approach to quantum theory that I will refer to as PQT. After briefly reviewing PQT by putting it into a more general philosophical context, I will discuss Healey’s self-proclaimed quantum realism by stressing that his agent-centered approach to quantum mechanics makes his position rather close to a sophisticated form of instrumentalist, despite his claims to the contrary. My discussion of the possible sources of incompatibility between PQT and the view that agents can be regarded as physical systems (agent physicalism) will allow me to compare Healey’s view of quantum theory with Pitowsky’s. In particular, by focusing on the measurement problem, I will discuss the role of observers and the notion of information in their respective philosophical approach.