Pniower, Justin (2005) Particles, Objects, and Physics. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

This thesis analyses the ontological nature of quantum particles. In it I argue that quantum particles, despite their indistinguishability, are objects in much the same way as classical particles. This similarity provides an important point of continuity between classical and quantum physics. I consider two notions of indistinguishability, that of indiscernibility and permutation symmetry. I argue that neither sort of indistinguishability undermines the identity of quantum particles. I further argue that, when we understand in distinguishability in terms of permutation symmetry, classical particles are just as indistinguishable as quantum particles; for classical physics also possesses permutation symmetry.

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Item Type:	Other
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Pniower, Justin
Additional Information:	DPhil thesis submitted Trinity Term 2005 at the University of Oxford.
Keywords:	indistinguishability, indiscernibility, permutation symmetry, anti-haecceitism, quantum particles, particle identity, quantum statistics, classical statistics, ontic vagueness
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Justin Pniower
Date Deposited:	19 Jan 2007
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:14
Item ID:	3135
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	2005
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/3135

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