The Physics and Metaphysics of Primitive Stuff

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Version: author
Serval ID
serval:BIB_6F7362001A3A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The Physics and Metaphysics of Primitive Stuff
Journal
The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Author(s)
Esfeld Michael, Lazarovici Dustin, Lam Vincent, Hubert Mario
ISSN
0007-0882 (imprimé)
1464-3537 (en ligne)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2017
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
68
Number
1
Pages
133-161
Language
english
Abstract
The article sets out a primitive ontology of the natural world in terms of primitive stuff—that is, stuff that has as such no physical properties at all—but that is not a bare substratum either, being individuated by metrical relations. We focus on quantum physics and employ identity-based Bohmian mechanics to illustrate this view, but point out that it applies all over physics. Properties then enter into the picture exclusively through the role that they play for the dynamics of the primitive stuff. We show that such properties can be local (classical mechanics), as well as holistic (quantum mechanics), and discuss two metaphysical options to conceive them, namely, Humeanism and modal realism in the guise of dispositionalism.
Keywords
primitive ontology, primitive stuff, ontic structural realism, identical particles, Bohmian mechanics, Humeanism, modal realism, dispositionalism
Create date
08/02/2016 15:53
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:28
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