/

Identity in Physics A Historical, Philosophical, and Formal Analysis

French Steven Krause, Décio
Innbundet / 2006 / Engelsk

Product details

ISBN
9780199278244
Published
2006
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Weight
824 gr
Height
241 mm
Width
165 mm
Thickness
30 mm
Age
UP, P, 05, 06
Language
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Number of pages
440

Author
French Steven
Krause, Décio

Identity in Physics A Historical, Philosophical, and Formal Analysis

French Steven Krause, Décio
Innbundet / 2006 / Engelsk
French Steven Krause, Décio
Innbundet / 2006 / Engelsk
1.125,-
Lowest price in the last 30 days: 1.125,-
Ikke i salg
Click & Collect

Identity in Physics is a very significant contribution to debate about, well, identity in physics, but it deserves attention from general philosophers of science and metaphysicians too.

Katherine Hawley, International Studies in Philosophy of Science

Steven French and Décio Krause have written what bids fair to be, for years to come, the definitive philosophical treatment of the problem of the individuality of elementary particles in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.

Don Howard, Metascience

...complex, multifaceted and marvellous book. Identity in Physics critically scrutinizes metaphysical issues implicated in claccical and quantum physics, making deft use of the history of theoretical developments, and ultimately suggesting a way of rethinking the formal foundations of quantum physics...It is very rare to see the metaphysics of science engaged so carefully, conscientiously and even-handedly.

Kent W. Staley, BJHS

See all

This is a well written book that clearly lays out many of the important views of the field. It is engaging and interesting, and, without doubt, will be widely read by students and practitioners of the field.

Justin C. Pniower MIND

Steven French and Decio Krause's book in not just a long overdue addition to the existing literature: it is the most thorough and authoritative monograph ever written on the subject, and is bound to shape any future philosophical debate on identity in physics.

Michela Massimi, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

The debate on the individuality of particles in classical and quantum physics is one of the most fascinating ongoing debates in philosophy of physics...Steven French and Decio Krause's book is not just a long overdue addition to the existing literature: it is the most thorough and authoritative monograph ever written on the subject, and is bound to shape any future philosophical debate on identity in physics...this monograph is a must for anyone interested to tackle these deep metaphysical issues and their far-reaching implications for the world we live in.

Michela Massimi, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

Can quantum particles be regarded as individuals, just like books, tables and people? According to the 'received' view - articulated by several physicists in the immediate aftermath of the quantum revolution - quantum physics itself tells us they cannot: quantum particles, unlike their classical counterparts, must be regarded as 'non-individuals' in some sense. However, recent work has indicated that this is not the whole story and that the theory is also consistent with the position that such particles can be taken to be individuals, albeit at a metaphysical price. Drawing on philosophical accounts of identity and individuality, as well as the histories of both classical and quantum physics, the authors explore these two alternative metaphysical packages. In particular, they argue that if quantum particles are regarded as individuals, then Leibniz's famous Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles is in fact violated. Recent discussions of this conclusion are analysed in detail and, again, the costs involved in saving the Principle are carefully considered. Taking the alternative package, the authors deploy recent work in non-standard logic and set theory to indicate how we can make sense of the idea that objects can be non-individuals. The concluding chapter suggests how these results might then be extended to quantum field theory. Identity in Physics brings together a range of work in this area and further develops the authors' own contributions to the debate. Uniquely, as the title indicates, it situates this work in the appropriate formal, historical, and philosophical contexts.
Read more
Drawing on philosophical accounts of identity and individuality, as well as the histories of both classical and quantum physics, this book explores the two alternative metaphysical packages. It indicates how we can make sense of the idea that objects can be non-individuals, suggesting how the results might be extended to quantum field theory.
Read more
1. Introduction ; 2. Individuality in Classical Physics ; 3. Quantum Statistics and Non-Individuality ; 4. Individuality and Non-Individuality in Quantum Mechanics ; 5. Names, Nomological Objects, and Quasets ; 6. A Problem for Present Day Mathematics ; 7. The Mathematics of Non-Individuality ; 8. Non-Reflexive Quantum Logics ; 9. The Logic of Quanta
Read more
Groundbreaking work on the foundations of physics Brilliant new perspective on the basic constituents of the universe Interweaves physics, history, philosophy, and logic Both authors are internationally renowned for their research in this field Comprehensive treatment of a wide range of views
Read more
Groundbreaking work on the foundations of physics Brilliant new perspective on the basic constituents of the universe Interweaves physics, history, philosophy, and logic Both authors are internationally renowned for their research in this field Comprehensive treatment of a wide range of views
Read more

Related products

Identity in Physics is a very significant contribution to debate about, well, identity in physics, but it deserves attention from general philosophers of science and metaphysicians too.

Katherine Hawley, International Studies in Philosophy of Science

Steven French and Décio Krause have written what bids fair to be, for years to come, the definitive philosophical treatment of the problem of the individuality of elementary particles in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.

Don Howard, Metascience

...complex, multifaceted and marvellous book. Identity in Physics critically scrutinizes metaphysical issues implicated in claccical and quantum physics, making deft use of the history of theoretical developments, and ultimately suggesting a way of rethinking the formal foundations of quantum physics...It is very rare to see the metaphysics of science engaged so carefully, conscientiously and even-handedly.

Kent W. Staley, BJHS

See all

This is a well written book that clearly lays out many of the important views of the field. It is engaging and interesting, and, without doubt, will be widely read by students and practitioners of the field.

Justin C. Pniower MIND

Steven French and Decio Krause's book in not just a long overdue addition to the existing literature: it is the most thorough and authoritative monograph ever written on the subject, and is bound to shape any future philosophical debate on identity in physics.

Michela Massimi, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

The debate on the individuality of particles in classical and quantum physics is one of the most fascinating ongoing debates in philosophy of physics...Steven French and Decio Krause's book is not just a long overdue addition to the existing literature: it is the most thorough and authoritative monograph ever written on the subject, and is bound to shape any future philosophical debate on identity in physics...this monograph is a must for anyone interested to tackle these deep metaphysical issues and their far-reaching implications for the world we live in.

Michela Massimi, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

Can quantum particles be regarded as individuals, just like books, tables and people? According to the 'received' view - articulated by several physicists in the immediate aftermath of the quantum revolution - quantum physics itself tells us they cannot: quantum particles, unlike their classical counterparts, must be regarded as 'non-individuals' in some sense. However, recent work has indicated that this is not the whole story and that the theory is also consistent with the position that such particles can be taken to be individuals, albeit at a metaphysical price. Drawing on philosophical accounts of identity and individuality, as well as the histories of both classical and quantum physics, the authors explore these two alternative metaphysical packages. In particular, they argue that if quantum particles are regarded as individuals, then Leibniz's famous Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles is in fact violated. Recent discussions of this conclusion are analysed in detail and, again, the costs involved in saving the Principle are carefully considered. Taking the alternative package, the authors deploy recent work in non-standard logic and set theory to indicate how we can make sense of the idea that objects can be non-individuals. The concluding chapter suggests how these results might then be extended to quantum field theory. Identity in Physics brings together a range of work in this area and further develops the authors' own contributions to the debate. Uniquely, as the title indicates, it situates this work in the appropriate formal, historical, and philosophical contexts.
Read more
Drawing on philosophical accounts of identity and individuality, as well as the histories of both classical and quantum physics, this book explores the two alternative metaphysical packages. It indicates how we can make sense of the idea that objects can be non-individuals, suggesting how the results might be extended to quantum field theory.
Read more
1. Introduction ; 2. Individuality in Classical Physics ; 3. Quantum Statistics and Non-Individuality ; 4. Individuality and Non-Individuality in Quantum Mechanics ; 5. Names, Nomological Objects, and Quasets ; 6. A Problem for Present Day Mathematics ; 7. The Mathematics of Non-Individuality ; 8. Non-Reflexive Quantum Logics ; 9. The Logic of Quanta
Read more
Groundbreaking work on the foundations of physics Brilliant new perspective on the basic constituents of the universe Interweaves physics, history, philosophy, and logic Both authors are internationally renowned for their research in this field Comprehensive treatment of a wide range of views
Read more
Groundbreaking work on the foundations of physics Brilliant new perspective on the basic constituents of the universe Interweaves physics, history, philosophy, and logic Both authors are internationally renowned for their research in this field Comprehensive treatment of a wide range of views
Read more

Product details

ISBN
9780199278244
Published
2006
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Weight
824 gr
Height
241 mm
Width
165 mm
Thickness
30 mm
Age
UP, P, 05, 06
Language
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Number of pages
440

Author
French Steven
Krause, Décio

Related products