Identity in physics : a historical, philosophical, and formal analysis / by Steven French and Decio Krause.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

French, Steven, author.

Krause, Decio, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Physics--Philosophy.

Physics.

Identity (Philosophical concept).

Individuality.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 422 pages)

Other Title:

Historical, philosophical, and formal analysis

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Clarendon Press ; Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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 theposition that such particles can be taken to be individuals, albeit at a metaphysical price. Drawing on philosophical acc

Contents:

Individuality in classical physics

Quantum statistics and non-individuality

Individuality and non-individuality in quantum mechanics

Names, nomological objects and quasets

A problem for present-day mathematics

The mathematics of non-individuality

Non-reflexive quantum logics

The logic of quanta.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [385]-413) and index.

ISBN:

0-19-957563-0

1-281-16479-8

9786611164799

0-19-153522-2

1-4356-3123-4

OCLC:

123130732