The Physics and Metaphysics of Primitive Stuff

Esfeld, Michael; Lazarovici, Dustin; Lam, Vincent; Hubert, Mario

doi:10.1093/bjps/axv026

Cited by 44 publications

(42 citation statements)

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“…However, while dispositions or powers seem a plausible basis for defending some kind of nomological realism about the wave function, Esfeld et al (2013) have recent argued that the wave function ought to be regarded as describing a power of the configuration of all particles in the universe. This claim raises the question whether the primitive ontology of quantum theory can plausibly be given in terms of matter points devoid of any intrinsic dispositions but essentially identified by metrical relations (Esfeld, et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Events and the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics

Dorato¹

2015

Topoi

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In the first part of the paper I argue that an ontology of events is precise, flexible and general enough so as to cover the three main alternative formulations of quantum mechanics as well as theories advocating an antirealistic view of the wave function. Since these formulations advocate a primitive ontology of entities living in four-dimensional spacetime, they are good candidates to connect that quantum image with the manifest image of the world. However, to the extent that some form of realism about the wave function is also necessary, one needs to endorse also the idea that the wave function refers to some kind of power. In the second part, I discuss some difficulties raised by the recent proposal that in Bohmian mechanics this power is holistically possessed by all the particles in the universe.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…dispositions also to particles in Bohmian mechanics (see Brown et al 1996, Esfeld et al 2015. In a word, there is little doubt that an ontology of events is very much at home in the "flashy" version of GRW.…”

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confidence: 99%

Events and the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics

Dorato¹

2015

Topoi

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“…Consequently, the particles are not intrinsically electrons, neutrons, etc. They can be so described because they move electronwise, neutronwise so to speak (see Esfeld et al 2017).…”

Section: Minimalist Ontology and Physical Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These particles move according to a deterministic law -the guiding equation -in which the wave function has the job to yield the particles' velocities at any time t give their positions at t. This law is linked with a probability measure -the quantum equilibrium hypothesis -from which the quantum mechanical probability calculus follows. (2000), Allori et al (2008) and Esfeld et al (2014Esfeld et al ( , 2017 for the Bohmian particles being characterized by their relative positions only.…”

Section: Minimalist Ontology and Physical Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, the particles are not intrinsically electrons, neutrons, etc. They can be so described because they move electronwise, neutronwise so to speak (see Esfeld et al 2017).In other words, the distance relations among the point particles and the change in these relations make true all the true propositions about the natural world, including in particular the propositions expressing laws of nature. Hence, if the laws of classical mechanics figure in the best system, predicates such as "mass" and "charge" apply to the particles in virtue of the 1 Castaneda (1980, p. 106) uses the term "super-Humean world", meaning a view that does not regard energy (or forces) as something that exists in the world; but there is no rejection of absolute space or natural intrinsic properties considered in Castaneda.…”

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A proposal for a minimalist ontology

Esfeld

2017

Synthese

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This paper seeks to answer the following question: What is a minimal set of entities that form an ontology of the natural world, given our well-established physical theories? The proposal is that the following two axioms are sufficient to obtain such a minimalist ontology: (1) There are distance relations that individuate simple objects, namely matter points. (2) The matter points are permanent, with the distances between them changing. I sketch out how one can obtain our wellestablished physical theories on the basis of just these two axioms. The argument for minimalism in ontology then is that it yields all the explanations that one can reasonably demand in science and philosophy, while avoiding the drawbacks that come with a richer ontology.Keywords: minimalist ontology, parsimony, Humeanism, relationalism about space-time, ontic structural realism, classical mechanics, quantum physics, Bohmian mechanics Formulating a minimalist ontologyAny form of a naturalistic metaphysics uses science, notably fundamental physics, as the guide to ontology. However, one cannot read off the ontology from the mathematical structure of a physical theory. The first and foremost purpose of such a structure is to obtain a simple and informative representation of the evolution of a given domain of entities. The mathematical structure uses whatever parameters are appropriate to achieve that aim, but these parameters do not thereby automatically become part of the ontology of the theory. To mention just one prominent example, consider the wave function, which is the central mathematical innovation of quantum physics. It is without doubt a parameter that fulfils the mentioned purpose, but there is an ongoing dispute about what, if any, its ontological significance is. Thus, even if one endorses scientific realism and adopts a naturalistic stance in metaphysics, philosophical argument is called for to develop a proposal for an ontology of a given physical theory, or physics tout court. One way to approach ontology is to draw a distinction between what can be called the primitive ontology of a given physical theory and what is its dynamical structure. The primitive ontology are those entities that, according to the theory, exist simply in the world. The dynamical structure of a physical theory then is made up by all those parameters that are introduced through their function for the evolution of those entities that constitute the primitive ontology. Note that this notion of a primitive ontology is much wider than the sense in which this term is used in the debate about the foundations of quantum mechanics (see Dürr et al. 2013Dürr et al. , p. 29 (first published 1992, and Allori et al. 2008): a primitive ontology in this wide sense does not necessarily have to consist in entities that are localized in threedimensional space or four-dimensional space-time (and what about space or space-time A proposal for a minimalist ontology 2 themselves?). Nonetheless, the paradigmatic example of a primitive ontology is this one: according t...

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Scientific Realism Meets Metaphysics of Quantum Mechanics

Saatsi¹

2019

Synthese Library

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I examine the epistemological debate on scientific realism in the context of quantum physics, focusing on the empirical underdetermination of different formulations and interpretations of QM. I will argue that much of the interpretational, metaphysical work on QM transcends the kinds of realist commitments that are well-motivated in the light of the history of science. I sketch a way of demarcating empirically well-confirmed aspects of QM from speculative quantum metaphysics in a way that coheres with anti-realist evidence from the history of science. The minimal realist attitude sketched withholds realist commitment to what quantum state |Ψ represents. I argue that such commitment is not required for fulfilling the ultimate realist motivation: accounting for the empirical success of quantum mechanics in a way that is in tune with a broader understanding of how theoretical science progresses and latches onto reality.

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The Physics and Metaphysics of Primitive Stuff

Cited by 44 publications

References 30 publications

Events and the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics

Events and the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics

A proposal for a minimalist ontology

Scientific Realism Meets Metaphysics of Quantum Mechanics

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