Determinate Values for Quantum Observables

Abstract

This is a comment on J. A. Barrett's article ``The Preferred-Basis Problem and the Quantum Mechanics of Everything'' in Brit. J. Phil. Sci. 56 (2005), which concerns theories postulating that certain quantum observables have determinate values, corresponding to additional (often called ``hidden'') variables. I point out that it is far from clear, for most observables, what such a postulate is supposed to mean, unless the postulated additional variable is related to a clear ontology in space-time, such as particle world lines, string world sheets, or fields.