NDLI: Contemporary Quantum Physics Metaphysical Challenge: Looking for a Relational Metaphysics

Please wait, while we are loading the content...

Contemporary Quantum Physics Metaphysical Challenge: Looking for a Relational Metaphysics

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Cordovil, João L.
Copyright Year	2014
Abstract	Traditionally, Physics has been dominated by the image of objects, that is, by the atomistic metaphysics of absolutely intrinsic (monadic) properties of qualitatively unchangeable individual entities. The first major challenge to this metaphysics inside physics comes with quantum mechanics, specifically with the well-known phenomenon known as ‘quantum entanglement’. From quantum entanglement it seems that we can conclude that: (1) quantum objects are not independent entities; (2) wholes (systems) have an ontological priority over their parts (subsystems). However, it is arguable that is too risky to infer such conclusions directly from quantum mechanics. If epistemological consequences of quantum mechanics are inescapable, is seems unwise to take any direct ontological consequences from it. After all, quantum mechanics does not refer to the states of physical entities before measurements, but it is just a theory that allows us to calculate the possible outcomes from any given measurement. Still, this does not mean that, indirectly, quantum mechanics does not give some account of quantum reality that deeply challenges traditional objects metaphysics, namely, (1) through the simple existence of the measurement problem; and (2) through the experimental violations of Bell inequality. Even challenged, the object picture in physics can thus prevail. But we must also not forget that on the last decades, Quantum Physics has being evolved beyond the direct scope of quantum mechanics. I will try to argue that in at least some contemporary approaches in Quantum Physics we can see that there is a movement pointing towards a relational ontological view, according to which the ontological primacy is not to be given to individual entities, as self-sufficient elements with their own intrinsic and immutable identities—as in traditional object’s metaphysics—but to some sort of relational structures. I argue that although this relational metaphysics is still to be developed, it will have to be able to account for both the relational and object natures of quantum entities.
Starting Page	133
Ending Page	143
Page Count	11
File Format	PDF
ISSN	11221151
Journal	Axiomathes
Volume Number	25
Issue Number	1
e-ISSN	15728390
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2014-11-18
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Contemporary quantum physics Entanglement Metaphysics of physics Ontology Relational metaphysics Philosophy Linguistics Cognitive Psychology Logic
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Philosophy Mathematics

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

No-Futurism and Metaphysical Contingentism

Idealization in unitarian metaphysics

Quantum Cooperation

New Directions in Metaphysics and Ontology

Generalized Quantum Theory: Overview and Latest Developments

Exemplification as Explanation

The Interactivist Social Ontology of Persons: A Descriptive and Evaluative Synthesis, with Two Suggestions

Bridging the Gap: Does Closure to Efficient Causation Entail Quantum-Like Attributes?

Relational Biology of Symbiosis

Contemporary Quantum Physics Metaphysical Challenge: Looking for a Relational Metaphysics

Similar Documents

No-Futurism and Metaphysical Contingentism

Idealization in unitarian metaphysics

Quantum Cooperation

New Directions in Metaphysics and Ontology

Generalized Quantum Theory: Overview and Latest Developments

Exemplification as Explanation

The Interactivist Social Ontology of Persons: A Descriptive and Evaluative Synthesis, with Two Suggestions

Bridging the Gap: Does Closure to Efficient Causation Entail Quantum-Like Attributes?

Relational Biology of Symbiosis

Contemporary Quantum Physics Metaphysical Challenge: Looking for a Relational Metaphysics