Identity and Indiscernibility in Quantum Mechanics

Tomasz Bigaj is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warsaw, Poland. His previous publications include the book Non-locality and Possible Worlds (2006) and numerous articles on various topics in philosophy of physics, philosophical logic and analytic metaphysics (Synthese, Erkenntnis, Foundations of Physics, Foundations of Science).

“This book makes an important contribution to the philosophy of physics, as it is not only an exceptionally clear overview of the work done in the last 50 years on individuality in quantum physics, but also a preliminary work that lays the foundations for a promising new metaphysics of fundamental objects.” (Système d'information en philosophie des sciences, SIPS, February 15, 2023)“Both for physicists interested in the basics of quantum mechanics and philosophers of science, reading the book can be quite a challenge. However, the efforts of going through it will be highly rewarded. The book is the best and most comprehensive work on the physics and philosophy of quantum particle systems of the same type in world literature.” (Marek Kuś, ZFN Philosophical Problems in Science, November 8, 2022)

• Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Indiscernibility of quantum particles: a road to orthodoxy.- Chapter 3. The source of the Symmetrization Postulate.- Chapter 4. Logic and metaphysics of discernibility.- Chapter 5. Qualitative individuation of same-type particles: beyond orthodoxy.- Chapter 6. The heterodox approach to absolute discernibility and entanglement.- Chapter 7. Two views on quantum individuation.- Chapter 8. The metaphysics of quantum objects.