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.
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A Historical, Philosophical, and Formal Analysis
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780191535222
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Oxford University Press Academic UK
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter