Identical Particles in Quantum Mechanics: Against the Received View
Publication date
2025-09-27
Authors
Dieks, Dennis
Editors
Krause, Décio
Rafael Becker Arenhart, Jonas
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Part of book
Metadata
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License
taverne
Abstract
According to the so-called Received View, identical quantum particles are a previously unknown kind of entities that do not possess individuality. In this chapter we discuss and criticize this view and propose an alternative to it. According to our alternative view “collections of identical quantum particles” should not always be viewed as consisting of separate objects. However, there are situations in which a particle picture does apply. According to the view we defend, the particles that emerge in such cases are distinguishable individuals, unlike the particles of the Received View.
Keywords
Taverne, Language and Linguistics, History, Logic, History and Philosophy of Science
Citation
Dieks, D 2025, Identical Particles in Quantum Mechanics : Against the Received View. in D Krause & J Rafael Becker Arenhart (eds), Individuals and Non-Individuals in Quantum Theory. 1 edn, Synthese Library, vol. 525, Springer, pp. 271-293. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-01408-5_15