Identity in Physics A Historical, Philosophical, and Formal Analysis [Hardcover]

Steven French and Decio Krause examine the metaphysical foundations of quantum physics. They draw together historical, logical, and philosophical perspectives on the fundamental nature of quantum particles and offer new insights on a range of important issues. Focusing on the concepts of identity and individuality, the authors explore two alternative metaphysical views; according to one, quantum particles are no different from books, tables, and people in this respect; according to the other, they most certainly are. Each view comes with certain costs attached and after describing their origins in the history of quantum theory, the authors carefully consider whether these costs are worth bearing. Recent contributions to these discussions are analyzed in detail and the authors present their own original perspective on the issues. The final chapter suggests how this perspective can be taken forward in the context of quantum field theory.

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

Identity in Physicsis 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 D?cio 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 Pysicsis scientifically and technically sophisticated and provides a model of how metaphylC!