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This book provides new approaches to the debate on individuality and non-individuality in quantum mechanics, with chapters written by leading experts in the field. A significant issue in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, the choice between individuality and non-individuality, and the well-known metaphysical underdetermination between these options in quantum theory, receive here new treatment, including metaphysical, logical, and methodological analyses. Scholars and students engaged in the philosophy of quantum mechanics and the metaphysics of science, as well as philosophers concerned with the impact of quantum mechanics on their disciplines will find this book to not only new proposals and arguments for the various sides of the debate, but also new venues for exploring the subject further.
List of contents
1 Presentation to the volume ‘Individuals and non-individuals in quantum theory’ (Décio Krause, Jonas R. Becker Arenhart).- 2 Identical particles in quantum mechanics: favouring the Received View (Décio Krause, Jonas R. Becker Arenhart).- 3 On the controversy Received View vs. Alternative View (Décio Krause).- 4 Indistinguishability right from the start in standard quantum mechanics (Federico Holik, Juan Pablo Jorge, and Cesar Massri).- 5 On the assumptions underlying KS-like contradictions (J. Acacio de Barros, Juan Pablo Jorge, Federico Holik).- 6 Quantum individuals, indiscernibility and entanglement in the quantum computational semantics (Maria Luisa Dalla Chiara, Roberto Giuntini, Roberto Leporini, Giuseppe Sergioli).- 7 Quantum ontology: non-individual bundles of possible properties and the role of symmetry (Olimpia Lombardi, Hern´an Accorinti).- 8 Quantum Theory and the Ontological Status of Non-individuals (Matteo Morganti).- 9 Non-individuality and experience (Raoni Arroyo).- 10 Quantum holism and essential dispositions (Tuomas Tahko, Christina Conroy, and Donnchadh O’Conaill).- 11 Identity with no individuality (Adonai S. Sant’Anna).- 12 Ad hoc identity, Goyal complementarity, and counting quantum phenomena (Benjamin C. Jantzen).- 13 Metaphysical Underdetermination as a Motivational Device (Steven French).- 14 The Dilemma of Quantum Individuality Beyond Particle Metaphysics (Christian de Ronde, Raimundo Fernandez-Moujan).- 15 Identical Particles in Quantum Mechanics: Against the Received View (Dennis Dieks).- 16 Identity and Indistinguishability: Conflation and Distinction (Otavio Bueno).
About the author
Décio Krause is Professor at the Graduate Program of Logic and Metaphysics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His works deal with the logical foundations of science, mainly involving the logical and metaphysical discussions about identity and individuality of quantum entities, and the applications of non-classical logics to the sciences. Prof. Krause pioneered formal work on non-reflexive logics and quasi-set theories. He is a member of the International Academy of Philosophy of Science, located in Brussels, and a researcher of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Jonas R. Becker Arenhart is Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and researcher of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). His main research interests are focused on the relation between metaphysics and science, philosophy of logic, and logical foundations of science. Methodological aspects of the relation between science and metaphysics are the focus, with special interest is the case of quantum mechanics and the metaphysics of individuality and non-individuality. Also, special focus is given to applications of logic in foundational approaches to science and metaphysics, with emphasis on non-reflexive logics and paraconsistent logics.
Summary
This book provides new approaches to the debate on individuality and non-individuality in quantum mechanics, with chapters written by leading experts in the field. A significant issue in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, the choice between individuality and non-individuality, and the well-known metaphysical underdetermination between these options in quantum theory, receive here new treatment, including metaphysical, logical, and methodological analyses. Scholars and students engaged in the philosophy of quantum mechanics and the metaphysics of science, as well as philosophers concerned with the impact of quantum mechanics on their disciplines will find this book to not only new proposals and arguments for the various sides of the debate, but also new venues for exploring the subject further.
