Identity in Physics: A Historical, Philosophical, and Formal Analysis

by Steven French, Decio Krause

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199575633
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/30/2010
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Steven French is Professor of the Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds

Decio Krause is Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Individuality in Classical Physics3. Quantum Statistics and Non-Individuality4. Individuality and Non-Individuality in Quantum Mechanics5. Names, Nomological Objects, and Quasets6. A Problem for Present Day Mathematics7. The Mathematics of Non-Individuality8. Non-Reflexive Quantum Logics9. The Logic of Quanta

Editorial Reviews

"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 the 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

"Identity in Pysics is scientifically and technically sophisticated and provides a model of how metaphysics ought to be done. It is essential reading for philosophers of physics, metaphysicians and logicians interested in identity and individuality, and is highly recommended for anyone interested in the history and philosophy of physics, or non-standard approaches to logic and set theory. French and Krause are to be congratulated on producing a rich and comprehensive book worthy of careful study."—James Ladyman, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

From the Publisher