Quantum pointillism with relational identity. (English) Zbl 1529.81016
Summary: The feasibility of establishing a proper notion of a distinguishable object in the context of the de Broglie-Bohm approach to quantum mechanics seems, at first sight, uncontroversial by virtue of the fact that this theory can supposedly be interpreted in terms of a system of objective particles distinguished by individuating properties. However, after conducting a critical revision and evaluation of this trivial interpretation, and having assessed different alternatives that have been proposed in recent literature, I argue that within this theory an appropriate notion of a distinguishable object can only be articulated by means of the following theoretical and metaphysical strategies: firstly, by appealing to a pre-existing, symmetrized Bohmian framework that is empirically indistinguishable but physically distinguishable from the standard Bohmian formulation; and secondly, by suggesting a different interpretation of this symmetrized formulation based upon a relational notion of the distinguishable object that can only be appropriately conceived from a structuralist point of view.
MSC:
| 81P05 | General and philosophical questions in quantum theory |
| 81Q65 | Alternative quantum mechanics (including hidden variables, etc.) |
Keywords:
metaphysics of quantum mechanics; de Broglie-Bohm theory; identity of particles; structural realismReferences:
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