Structuralist approaches to Bohmian mechanics

Lam and Esfeld have argued that, within Bohmian mechanics, the wave function can be interpreted as a physical structure instantiated by the fundamental particles posited by the theory. Further, to characterize the nature of this structure, they appeal to the framework of Ontic Structural Realism (OSR), thereby proposing a structuralist interpretation of Bohmian mechanics. However, I shall point out that OSR denotes a family of distinct views, each of which maintains a different account about the relation between structures and objects, and entails a different kind of ontology. Thus, in this paper I will show how to articulate the structuralist approach to Bohmian Mechanics accordingly to the different standard versions of OSR, and I will evaluate these alternatives. Moreover, I will propose a novel and sui generis kind of structuralist interpretation of Bohmian Mechanics, based on the framework of metaphysical coherentism.

Automated summary

This paper explores the structuralist approach to interpreting the wave function as a physical structure within Bohmian mechanics, using the framework of Ontic Structural Realism (OSR). The author discusses how different versions of OSR can be applied to the interpretation of Bohmian mechanics and evaluates these alternatives. Additionally, a novel structuralist interpretation of Bohmian mechanics based on the framework of metaphysical coherentism is proposed.