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87What Ontology for Relational Quantum Mechanics?Foundations of Physics 52 (3): 1-19. 2022.In this paper, we evaluate some proposals that have been put forward to clarify the ontological consequences of relational quantum mechanics. We first focus on priority monism and ontic structural realism and argue that these views are not suitable for providing an ontological interpretation of the theory. Then, we discuss an alternative interpretation that we regard as more promising, based on so-called ‘metaphysical coherentism’, which we also connect to the idea of an event-based, or ‘flash’,…Read more
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1778Moderately Naturalistic MetaphysicsSynthese 194 (7): 2557-2580. 2017.The present paper discusses different approaches to metaphysics and defends a specific, non-deflationary approach that nevertheless qualifies as scientifically-grounded and, consequently, as acceptable from the naturalistic viewpoint. By critically assessing some recent work on science and metaphysics, we argue that such a sophisticated form of naturalism, which preserves the autonomy of metaphysics as an a priori enterprise yet pays due attention to the indications coming from our best science,…Read more
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33Review of: Anjan Chakravartty, A Metaphysics for Scientific Realism (review)Philosophy in Review 29 (2): 86-88. 2009.A review of Anjan Chakravartty's book putting forward a metaphysical background for scientific realism.
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416In this paper, we evaluate some proposals that can be advanced to clarify the ontological consequences of Relational Quantum Mechanics. We first focus on priority monism and ontic structural realism and argue that these views are not suitable for providing an ontological interpretation of the theory. Then, we discuss an alternative interpretation that we regard as more promising, based on so-called ‘metaphysical coherentism’, which we also connect to the idea of an event-based, or ‘flash’, ontol…Read more
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14Esfeld and Deckert's A Minimalist Ontology of the Natural World (review)BJPS Review of Books. 2018.
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107Towards a Working Trope OntologyIn Paolo Valore (ed.), Topics in General and Formal Ontology, Polimetrica. pp. 191--219. 2006.A defence of trope theory as a workable ontology for quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.
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Introduction à 'Atomisme et Realisme Structural'In Textes Clés de Philosophie des Sciences, Vrin. pp. 373--382. 2004.Introduction to the French translation of a paper on structural realism by Elie Zahar.
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172From ontic structural realism to metaphysical coherentismEuropean Journal for Philosophy of Science 9 (1): 1-20. 2018.The present paper argues that the typical structuralist claims according to which invariances, symmetries and the like are fundamental – especially in physics – should not be understood in terms of physical relations being fundamental. Rather, they should be understood in terms of ‘metaphysical coherentism’ - the idea that object-like parts of reality exhibit symmetric relations of ontological dependence. The view is developed in some detail, in particular by showing that i) symmetric ontologica…Read more
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1132On the Preferability of Epistemic Structural RealismSynthese 142 (1): 81-107. 2004.In the last decade, structural realism has been presented as the most promising strategy for developing a defensible realist view of science. Nevertheless, controversy still continues in relation to the exact meaning of the proposed structuralism. The stronger version of structural realism, the so-called ontic structural realism, has been argued for on the basis of some ideas related to quantum mechanics. In this paper, I will first outline these arguments, mainly developed by Steven French and …Read more
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8Oggetti fisiciLebenswelt: Aesthetics and Philosophy of Experience 5 42-52. 2014.This essay aims to discuss a potential conflict between two intuitions about material objects: a 'pluralist' one, according to which every object belongs to more than one kind, and a 'reductionist' one, according to which there is only one fundamental type of things, i.e., material things. The former view threatens to translate a merely subjective matter of fact into an ontological fact, while the latter naturally leads to an outdated form of physicalism. What then? How to satisfy both the reque…Read more
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830Interpreting Quantum Entanglement: Steps towards Coherentist Quantum MechanicsBritish Journal for the Philosophy of Science. 2018.We put forward a new, ‘coherentist’ account of quantum entanglement, according to which entangled systems are characterized by symmetric relations of ontological dependence among the component particles. We compare this coherentist viewpoint with the two most popular alternatives currently on offer—structuralism and holism—and argue that it is essentially different from, and preferable to, both. In the course of this article, we point out how coherentism might be extended beyond the case of enta…Read more
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143Dependence, Justification and Explanation: Must Reality be Well-Founded?Erkenntnis 80 (3): 555-572. 2015.This paper is about metaphysical ‘infinitism’, the view that there are, or could be, infinite chains of ontological dependence. Its main aim is to show that, contrary to widespread opinion, metaphysical infinitism is a coherent position. On the basis of this, it is then additionally argued that metaphysical infinitism need not fare worse than the more canonical ‘foundationalist’ alternatives when it comes to formulating metaphysical explanations. In the course of the discussion, a rather unexplo…Read more
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1152Weak Discernibility, Quantum Mechanics and the Generalist PictureFacta Philosophica 10 (1/2): 155--183. 2008.Saunders' recent arguments in favour of the weak discernibility of (certain) quantum particles seem to be grounded in the 'generalist' view that science only provides general descriptions of the worlIn this paper, I introduce the ‘generalist’ perspective and consider its possible justification and philosophical basis; and then look at the notion of weak discernibility. I expand on the criticisms formulated by Hawley (2006) and Dieks and Veerstegh (2008) and explain what I take to be the basic pr…Read more
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944Resembling Particulars: What Nominalism?Metaphysica 8 (2): 165-178. 2007.This paper examines a recent proposal for reviving so-called resemblance nominalism. It is argued that, although consistent, it naturally leads to trope theory upon examination for reasons having to do with the appeal of neutrality as regards certain non-trivial ontological theses.
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793Inherent Properties and Statistics with Individual Particles in Quantum MechanicsStudies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 40 (3): 223-231. 2009.This paper puts forward the hypothesis that the distinctive features of quantum statistics are exclusively determined by the nature of the properties it describes. In particular, all statistically relevant properties of identical quantum particles in many-particle systems are conjectured to be irreducible, ‘inherent’ properties only belonging to the whole system. This allows one to explain quantum statistics without endorsing the ‘Received View’ that particles are non-individuals, or postulating…Read more
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885A new look at relational holism in quantum mechanicsPhilosophy of Science 76 (5): 1027--1038. 2009.Teller argued that violations of Bell’s inequalities are to be explained by interpreting quantum entangled systems according to ‘relational holism’, that is, by postulating that they exhibit irreducible (‘inherent’) relations. Teller also suggested a possible application of this idea to quantum statistics. However, the basic proposal was not explained in detail nor has the additional idea about statistics been articulated in further work. In this article, I reconsider relational holism, amending…Read more
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853Tropes and PhysicsGrazer Philosophische Studien 78 (1): 185--205. 2009.Th is paper looks at quantum theory and the Standard Model of elementary particles with a view to suggesting a detailed empirical implementation of trope ontology in harmony with our best physics.
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54New Realism and Scientific RealismQuaestio 12 535-549. 2012.The recent ‘new realist’ wave in philosophy reacts to the postmodernist/deconstructivist rejection of the notions of truth and objectivity by affirming the priority of the real over the subjective and socially constructed. Crucial in this dynamics is, among other things, the refusal of the anti-scientific stance integral to the non-realist view. In light of this, it is advisable to look at the new realism vs. antirealism debate from the perspective of the seemingly more local dispute concerning …Read more
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48Identity, Individuality and IndiscernibilityProceedings of the Xxii World Congress of Philosophy 15 167-173. 2008.This paper deals with the identity and individuality of material objects. In particular, the view that identity is derivative on the qualities of things, based on the endorsement of the Principle of the Identity of the Indiscernibles, is studied in detail. This provides what seems to be a much-needed unitary look at, and up-to-date critical analysis of, the vast literature on the Identity of the Indiscernibles. It is concluded that the ‘reductionist’ view, dating back to Quine and, earlier, to L…Read more
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1570Substrata and Properties: From Bare Particulars to Supersubstantivalism?Metaphysica 12 (2): 183-195. 2011.An argument to the effect that, under a few reasonable assumptions, the bare particular ontology is best understood in terms of supersubstativalism: objects are identical to regions of space(-time) and properties directly inhere in space(-time) points or region as their bearers.
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47Individual particles, properties and quantum statisticsIn Mauricio Suárez, Mauro Dorato & Miklós Rédei (eds.), EPSA Philosophical Issues in the Sciences · Launch of the European Philosophy of Science Association, Springer. pp. 175--185. 2009.Although there have been several attempts to resist this conclusion, it is commonly 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 by the fact that all the state-dependent properties described by quantum statistics are emergent relations
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1045Are the bundle theory and the substratum theory really twin Brothers?Axiomathes 19 (1): 73--85. 2009.In a recent paper, Jiri Benovsky argues that the bundle theory and the substratum theory, traditionally regarded as ‘deadly enemies’ in the metaphysics literature, are in fact ‘twin brothers’. That is, they turn out to be ‘equivalent for all theoretical purposes’ upon analysis. The only exception, according to Benovsky, is a particular version of the bundle theory whose distinguishing features render unappealing. In the present reply article, I critically analyse these undoubtedly relevant claim…Read more
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32Truth and success, again: Reply to Held on generalist versus particularist (anti-) realismThe Reasoner 6 (6). 2012.A reply to Held's response to a previous critical note.
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163Nils-Eric Sahlin, ed., Ramsey's Ontology (review)Philosophy in Review 25 (5): 380-382. 2005.Review of a collection of papers on the ontological aspects of Ramsey's work.
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737Identity in physics: Statistics and the (non-)individuality of quantum particlesIn H. De Regt, S. Hartmann & S.: Okasha (eds.), EPSA Philosophy of Science: Amsterdam 2009, Springer. 2010.This paper discusses the issue of the identity and individuality (or lack thereof) of quantum mechanical particles. It first reconstructs, on the basis of the extant literature, a general argument in favour of the conclusion that such particles are not individual objects. Then, it critically assesses each one of the argument’s premises. The upshot is that, in fact, there is no compelling reason for believing that quantum particles are not individual objects.
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128Humean Supervenience, Composition as Identity and Quantum WholesErkenntnis 81 (6): 1173-1194. 2016.In this paper, we focus on two related reductive theses in metaphysics—Humean Supervenience and Composition as Identity—and on their status in light of the indications coming from science, in particular quantum mechanics. While defenders of these reductive theses claim that they can be updated so as to resist the quantum evidence, we provide arguments against this contention. We claim that physics gives us reason for thinking that both Humean Supervenience and Composition as Identity are at leas…Read more
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93Science-based Metaphysics: On Some Recent Anti-metaphysical ClaimsPhilosophia Scientiae 19 57-70. 2015.This paper critically evaluates some arguments against metaphysics recently formulated by Bas Van Fraassen. A more positive view of the relationship between science and metaphysics is outlined.
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1089Is There a Compelling Argument for Ontic Structural Realism?Philosophy of Science 78 (5): 1165-1176. 2011.Structural realism first emerged as an epistemological thesis aimed to avoid the socalled pessimistic metainduction on the history of science. Some authors, however, have suggested that the preservation of structure across theory change is best explained by endorsing the metaphysical thesis that structure is all there is. Although the possibility of this latter, ‘ontic’ form of structural realism has been extensively debated, not much has been said concerning its justification. In this article, …Read more
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Università degli Studi Roma TreDipartimento di Filosofia, Comunicazione e SpettacoloAssociate Professor
Areas of Specialization
Metaphysics |
Philosophy of Physical Science |
General Philosophy of Science |