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46.1 Introduction 46.1 Introduction
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46.2 Interpretation and Ontology 46.2 Interpretation and Ontology
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46.3 Non-individuality and Metaphysical Profiles 46.3 Non-individuality and Metaphysical Profiles
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46.4 Individuals, Individuation, and Identity 46.4 Individuals, Individuation, and Identity
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46.5 Non-individuals, Lack of Identity 46.5 Non-individuals, Lack of Identity
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46.5.1 The Mathematics 46.5.1 The Mathematics
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46.5.2 A More Appropriate Mathematics 46.5.2 A More Appropriate Mathematics
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46.5.3 Quantum Physics 46.5.3 Quantum Physics
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46.6 Non-individuals with Identity 46.6 Non-individuals with Identity
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46.7 Conclusions 46.7 Conclusions
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Acknowledgements Acknowledgements
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References References
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46 The Non-Individuals Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
Get accessProfessor of Philosophy, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina and Graduate Program in Logic and Metaphysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Associate Professor, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Professor of Philosophy and Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts and Sciences, University of Miami
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Published:19 May 2022
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Abstract
This chapter provides a non-individuals interpretation of quantum mechanics, connecting issues regarding the interpretation of the theory with the metaphysics of quantum individuality. If quantum mechanics is understood as dealing with objects of a certain kind (whether particles, fields or something else), one needs to address the issue of what these objects are metaphysically. This, in turn, leads to questions regarding whether they are individuals or not, and if they are, which principle of individuality determines that that is the case? The non-individuals interpretation of quantum mechanics takes the relevant entities as lacking individuality, thus adding a metaphysical interpretative layer over the theory’s bare entities. In this chapter, two ways of articulating the view are examined and assessed: one is metaphysically inflationary, the other is deflationary. Both offer distinctive answers to a central interpretative aspect of the metaphysics of quantum mechanics.
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