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498Whence deep realism for Everettian quantum mechanics?Foundations of Physics 52 (6): 121. 2022.‘Shallow’ and ‘deep’ versions of scientific realism may be distinguished as follows: the shallow realist is satisfied with belief in the existence of the posits of our best scientific theories; by contrast, deep realists claim that realism can be legitimate only if such entities are described in metaphysical terms. We argue that this methodological discussion can be fruitfully applied in Everettian quantum mechanics, specifically on the debate concerning the existence of worlds and the recent di…Read more
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34Interpreting philosophical interpretations of paraconsistencySynthese 200 (6): 1-21. 2022.In this paper, we critically discuss the idea of a ‘philosophical interpretation’ of paraconsistent logics. We do so by considering the epistemic approach to paraconsistency, by Carnielli and Rodrigues, according to which paraconsistent logics should be interpreted exclusively in terms of non-conclusive evidence, and also, by considering counter-arguments by Barrio and Barrio and Da Re, according to whom paraconsistent logics are not specially tied to any specific interpretation. We begin by pre…Read more
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94Logical anti‐exceptionalism meets the “logic‐as‐models” approachTheoria 88 (6): 1211-1227. 2022.Logical anti‐exceptionalism is the view that logic is not special, it is continuous with science. This continuity is typically understood in terms of the use of the abductive method in logical theory choice, with logical knowledge resulting from our choice of the theory best accounting for the data. In this paper, we argue for two related claims: (i) that this understanding of the continuity between logic and science faces considerable challenges; and (ii) that such challenges may be avoided by …Read more
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88A (Meta)Metafísica da Ciência: O Caso da Mec'nica Qu'ntica Não RelativistaKriterion: Journal of Philosophy 63 (152): 275-296. 2022.ABSTRACT Traditionally, being a realist about something means believing in the independent existence of that something. In this line of thought, a scientific realist is someone who believes in the objective existence of the entities postulated by our best scientific theories. In metaphysical terms, what does that mean? In ontological terms, i.e., in terms of what exists, scientific realism can be understood as involving the adoption of a scientifically informed ontology. But according to some ph…Read more
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303The (meta)metaphysics of science: the case of non-relativistic quantum mechanicsKriterion – Journal of Philosophy 63 (152): 275-296. 2022.Traditionally, being a realist about something means believing in the independent existence of that something. In this line of thought, a scientific realist is someone who believes in the objective existence of the entities postulated by our best scientific theories. In metaphysical terms, what does that mean? In ontological terms, i.e., in terms of what exists, scientific realism can be understood as involving the adoption of a scientifically informed ontology. But according to some philosopher…Read more
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40The Liar Paradox: Between Evidence and TruthLogic and Logical Philosophy 1-23. forthcoming.Systems of paraconsistent logics violate the law of explosion: from contradictory premises not every formula follows. One of the philosophical options for interpreting the contradictions allowed as premises in these cases was put forward recently by Carnielli and Rodrigues, with their epistemic approach to paraconsistent logics. In a nutshell, the plan consists in interpreting the contradictions in epistemic terms, as indicating the presence of non-conclusive evidence for both a proposition and …Read more
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604The Powers of Quantum Mechanics: A Metametaphysical Discussion of the “Logos Approach”Foundations of Science 28 (3): 885-910. 2023.This paper presents and critically discusses the “logos approach to quantum mechanics” from the point of view of the current debates concerning the relation between metaphysics and science. Due to its alleged direct connection with quantum formalism, the logos approach presents itself as a better alternative for understanding quantum mechanics than other available views. However, we present metaphysical and methodological difficulties that seem to clearly point to a different conclusion: the log…Read more
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15A Generalization of Ordered-Pair SemanticsIn Sujata Ghosh & Thomas Icard (eds.), Logic, Rationality, and Interaction: 8th International Workshop, Lori 2021, Xi’an, China, October 16–18, 2021, Proceedings, Springer Verlag. pp. 149-157. 2021.In this paper, we generalize the ordered-pair semantics advanced by Matthew Clemens for the Logic of Paradox to n-tuple semantics, for each fixed n. Moreover, we show that the resulting semantics can accommodate not only LP, but also classical logic as well as strong Kleene logic depending on the set of designated values that one chooses. Building on the technical observations, we offer intuitively plausible readings for the semantics, and we also discuss some weaknesses of the original intuitiv…Read more
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550The spectrum of metametaphysics: mapping the state of art in scientific metaphysicsVeritas – Revista de Filosofia da Pucrs 66 (1). 2021.Scientific realism is typically associated with metaphysics. One current incarnation of such an association concerns the requirement of a metaphysical characterization of the entities one is being a realist about. This is sometimes called “Chakravartty’s Challenge”, and codifies the claim that without a metaphysical characterization, one does not have a clear picture of the realistic commitments one is engaged with. The required connection between metaphysics and science naturally raises the que…Read more
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65Logical Relativism Through Logical ContextsEuropean Journal of Analytic Philosophy 17 (2). 2021.We advance an approach to logical contexts that grounds the claim that logic is a local matter: distinct contexts require distinct logics. The approach results from a concern about context individuation, and holds that a logic may be constitutive of a context or domain of application. We add a naturalistic component: distinct domains are more than mere technical curiosities; as intuitionistic mathematics testifies, some of the distinct forms of inference in different domains are actively pursued…Read more
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19This book addresses the logical aspects of the foundations of scientific theories. Even though the relevance of formal methods in the study of scientific theories is now widely recognized and regaining prominence, the issues covered here are still not generally discussed in philosophy of science. The authors focus mainly on the role played by the underlying formal apparatuses employed in the construction of the models of scientific theories, relating the discussion with the so-called semantic ap…Read more
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65Newton da Costa on Hypothetical Models in Logic and on the Modal Status of Logical LawsAxiomathes 32 (6): 1191-1211. 2022.This paper has three aims: first, to present in a clear way Newton da Costa’s argument against the necessity of logical laws. In order to do so, we need to clearly advance his views on the idea that logic is context-relative, and not known a priori. Doing so, however, requires that we present his methodology for the development of counter-examples to logical laws: the use of hypothetical models in logic. Given that this method has been overlooked in most discussions on the epistemology of logic,…Read more
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1511Back to the question of ontologyManuscrito 44 (2): 1-51. 2021.We articulate a distinction between ontology, understood as involving existence questions, and metaphysics, understood as either providing for metaphysical profiles of entities or else as dealing with fundamentality and/or grounding and dependence questions. The distinction, we argue, allows a better understanding of the roles of metaontology and metametaphysics when it comes to discussing the relations between ontology and science on the one hand, and metaphysics and science on the other. We ar…Read more
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182On physics, metaphysics, and metametaphysicsMetaphilosophy 52 (2): 175-199. 2021.Nonrelativistic quantum mechanics (QM) works perfectly well for all practical purposes. Once one admits, however, that a successful scientific theory is supposed not only to make predictions but also to tell us a story about the world in which we live, a philosophical problem emerges: in the specific case of QM, it is not possible to associate with the theory a unique scientific image of the world; there are several images. The fact that the theory may be compatible with distinct ontologies, and…Read more
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14Quasi-truth and incomplete information in historical sciencesTheoria: Revista de Teoría, Historia y Fundamentos de la Ciencia 36 (1): 113-137. 2021.Quasi-truth is a formal approach to a pragmatically-oriented view of truth. The basic plan motivating the framework consists in providing for a more realistic account of truth, accommodating situations where there is incomplete information, as typically happens in the practice of science. The historical sciences are a case in hand, where incomplete information is the rule. It would seem, then, that the quasi-truth approach would be the most appropriate one to deal with historical sciences, then.…Read more
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221We discuss some methodological aspects of the relation between physics and metaphysics by dealing specifically with the case of non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Our main claim is that current attempts to productively integrate quantum mechanics and metaphysics are best seen as approaches of what should be called ‘the metaphysics of science’, which is developed by applying already existing metaphysical concepts to scientific theories. We argue that, in this perspective, metaphysics must be und…Read more
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505On the very idea of choosing a logic: the role of the background logicIn Alexandre Costa-Leite (ed.), Abstract Consequence and Logics - Essays in Honor of Edelcio G. de Souza, College Publications. pp. 267-286. 2020.Logical anti-exceptionalism is the view that logic is not special among the sciences. In particular, anti-exceptionalists claim that logical theory choice is effected on the same bases as any other theory choice procedure, i.e., by abduction, by weighting pros and cons of rival views, and by judging which theory scores best on a given set of parameters. In this paper, we first present the anti-exceptionalists favourite method for logical theory choice. After spotting on important features of the…Read more
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Newton da Costa sobre la lógica no-reflexiva y la identidadMetatheoria – Revista de Filosofía E Historia de la Ciencia 9 19--31. 2019.
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43Contradictory Concepts = True Contradictions?Philosophia 49 (2): 585-602. 2020.Dialetheism is the view that some contradictions are true. One common motivation to the view concerns cases of contradictory concepts obtaining together. Allegedly, in these cases, such concepts lead to a true contradiction. In this paper, we argue that this path is closed as a motivation for dialetheism. There are two basic difficulties to articulate the view: i) once contradictory or incompatible concepts are granted to obtain together, there is no longer any reason to claim that they were inc…Read more
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28The evidence approach to paraconsistency versus the paraconsistent approach to evidenceSynthese 198 (12): 11537-11559. 2020.In this paper, we analyze the epistemic approach to paraconsistency. This approach is advanced as an alternative to dialetheism on what concerns interpreting paraconsistency and contradictions; instead of having to accept that there are true contradictions, it is suggested that we may understand such situations as involving only conflicting evidence, which restricts contradictions to a notion of evidence weaker than truth. In this paper, we first distinguish two conflicting programs entangled in…Read more
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16Quantum Non-individuality: Background Concepts and PossibilitiesIn Wuppuluri Shyam & Francisco Antonio Dorio (eds.), The Map and the Territory: Exploring the Foundations of Science, Thought and Reality, Springer. pp. 281-305. 2018.It is not an exaggeration to say that quantum mechanics is at odds with most of our received metaphysical notions. In particular, an alleged revision is brought about by the theory on the metaphysical notion of ‘individuality’. Certainly, this should figure as being of great interest for metaphysicians and philosophers of science alike. What makes issues even more interesting is that some of the founding fathers of the theory, with their typical philosophical inclinations, suggested that the ent…Read more
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121Between Physics and Metaphysics: A Discussion of the Status of Mind in Quantum MechanicsIn J. Acacio de Barros & Carlos Montemayor (eds.), Quanta and Mind: Essays on the Connection Between Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness, Springer Verlag. pp. 31-42. 2019.We discuss the ‘Consciousness Causes Collapse Hypothesis’ (CCCH), the interpretation of quantum mechanics according to which consciousness solves the measurement problem. At first, it seems that the very hypothesis that consciousness causally acts over matter counts as a reductio of CCCH. However, CCCH won’t go so easily. In this paper we attempt to bring new light to the discussion. We distinguish the ontology of the interpretation (the positing of a causally efficacious consciousness as part o…Read more
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64Quasi-truth and defective knowledge in science: a critical examinationManuscrito 46 (2): 122-155. 2023.Quasi-truth (a.k.a. pragmatic truth or partial truth) is typically advanced as a framework accounting for incompleteness and uncertainty in the actual practices of science. Also, it is said to be useful for accommodating cases of inconsistency in science without leading to triviality. In this paper, we argue that the formalism available does not deliver all that is promised. We examine the standard account of quasi-truth in the literature, advanced by da Costa and collaborators in many places, a…Read more
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25Review of "The infamous boundary: Seven decades of Heresy in quantum physics" (review)Dissertatio 37 199-210. 2013.O livro de que tratamos aqui, The Infamous Boundary: Seven Decades of Heresy in Quantum Mechanics, de autoria de David Wick, é mais uma testemunha de que a questão sobre a interpretação que pode ser considerada a mais adequada para a mecânica quântica ainda é um problema que desperta o interesse tanto de cientistas quanto de filósofos e que, com certeza, não se esgotou no tempo dos criadores desta teoria.
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51A discussion on quantum non-individualityJournal of Applied Non-Classical Logics 22 (1-2): 105-124. 2012.In this paper we consider the notions of structure and models within the semantic approach to theories. To highlight the role of the mathematics used to build the structures which will be taken as the models of theories, we review the notion of mathematical structure and of the models of scientific theories. Then, we analyse a case-study and argue that if a certain metaphysical view of quantum objects is adopted, one seeing them as non-individuals, then there would be strong reasons to ask for a…Read more
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114Why Non-individuality? A Discussion on Individuality, Identity, and Cardinality in the Quantum ContextErkenntnis (1): 1-18. 2012.Recently, in the debate about the ontology of quantum mechanics some authors have defended the view that quantum particles are individuals in a primitive sense, so that individuality should be preferred over non-individuality (the alternative option). Primitive individuality involves two main claims: (1) every item is identical with itself and (2) it is distinct from every other item. Non-relativistic quantum mechanics is said to provide positive evidence for that position, since in every situat…Read more
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117Many entities, no identitySynthese 187 (2): 801-812. 2012.The aim of this paper is to argue that some objections raised by Jantzen (Synthese, 2010 ) against the separation of the concepts of ‘counting’ and ‘identity’ are misled. We present a definition of counting in the context of quasi-set theory requiring neither the labeling nor the identity and individuality of the counted entities. We argue that, contrary to what Jantzen poses, there are no problems with the technical development of this kind of definition. As a result of being able to keep count…Read more
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79Wither away individualsSynthese 190 (16): 3475-3494. 2013.In this paper we deal with the problem of identity and individuality in quantum mechanics. We analyze three definitions of the concept of an individual and propose to check their merits in relation to the theory. In order to achieve our goals our approach also ties those definitions of individuality to two distinct kinds of naturalism in ontology: a strong version, according to which quantum mechanics must somehow authorize in a positive fashion the ontological concepts being dealt with, and a w…Read more
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183Weak Discernibility in Quantum Mechanics: Does It Save PII?Axiomathes 23 (3): 461-484. 2013.The Weak Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles (weak PII), states that numerically distinct items must be discernible by a symmetrical and irreflexive relation. Recently, some authors have proposed that weak PII holds in non relativistic quantum mechanics, contradicting a long tradition claiming PII to be simply false in that theory. The question that arises then is: are relations allowed in the scope of PII? In this paper, we propose that quantum mechanics does not help us in deciding mat…Read more
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47Liberating Paraconsistency from ContradictionLogica Universalis 9 (4): 523-544. 2015.In this paper we propose to take seriously the claim that at least some kinds of paraconsistent negations are subcontrariety forming operators. We shall argue that from an intuitive point of view, by considering paraconsistent negations as formalizing that particular kind of opposition, one needs not worry with issues about the meaning of true contradictions and the like, given that “true contradictions” are not involved in these paraconsistent logics. Our strategy will consist in showing that, …Read more
Jonas R. B. Arenhart
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
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Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaAssociate Professor
Areas of Specialization
Logic and Philosophy of Logic |
Metaphilosophy |
Metaphysics |
Quantum Mechanics |