Abstract
It is often held that the peculiar statistical behaviour of quantum particles is due to their non-individuality. In this paper, a new suggestion is put forward: quantum particles are individuals, and the distinctive features of quantum statistics are determined solely by the fact that all the properties it describes are emergent relations.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
And, crucially, transitions from symmetric to anti-symmetric states (or vice versa) are ruled out.
- 3.
It could be argued that these non-reducible properties are dispositions, but this is immaterial to the treatment of quantum statistics that I wish to illustrate here.
- 4.
The ‘has’ should, of course, not be understood in the sense that there are definite properties before measurement, but just as a generic description. For present purposes, the issue concerning the exact interpretation of quantum properties can be left open.
- 5.
When exactly interaction gives rise to such many-particle systems, on the other hand, does not seem to be an issue that should be settled here. As a matter of fact it appears that it cannot be settled here, if only because ultimately connected to the infamous measurement problem. The connected question whether reality ultimately consists of a unique ‘universe-whole’ can also be left open for the time being.
- 6.
I wish to thank the audience in Madrid for their useful questions and comments. An expanded version of this paper can be found in Morganti (2009).
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Morganti, M. (2010). Individual Particles, Properties and Quantum Statistics. In: Suárez, M., Dorato, M., Rédei, M. (eds) EPSA Philosophical Issues in the Sciences. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3252-2_17
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