Epistemological vs. Ontological Relationalism in Quantum Mechanics: Relativism or Realism?

In this paper we investigate the history of relationalism and its present use in some interpretations of quantum mechanics. In the first part of this article we will provide a conceptual analysis of the relation between substantivalism, relationalism and relativism in the history of both physics and philosophy. In the second part, we will address some relational interpretations of quantum mechanics, namely, Bohr's relational approach, the modal interpretation by Kochen, the perspectival modal version by Bene and Dieks and the relational interpretation by Rovelli. We will argue that all these interpretations ground their understanding of relations in epistemological terms. By taking into account the analysis on the first part of our work, we intend to highlight the fact that there is a different possibility for understanding quantum mechanics in relational terms which has not been yet considered within the foundational literature. This possibility is to consider relations in (non-relativist) ontological terms. We will argue that such an understanding might be capable of providing a novel approach to the problem of representing what quantum mechanics is really talking about.Comment: Welcome

The Dilemma of Quantum Individuality Beyond Particle Metaphysics

It is commonly claimed that quantum mechanics makes reference to a microscopic realm constituted by elementary particles. However, as first famously noticed by Erwin Schrödinger, it is not at all clear what these quantum particles really are. According to the specialized literature, it is not even clear if each of these microscopic entities possess their own identity. Recently, Jonas Arenhart proposed a distinction of quantum objects in terms of a dilemma which forces a choice between their characterization either as individuals or as non-individuals. In this work we attempt to address the (metaphysical) presuppositions involved within Arenhart’s dilemma which ground the question of individuality in QM on a strong presupposition regarding the existence of quantum objects. After providing a reconsideration of the role played by metaphysics within physics we attempt to propose, not only a complete redefinition of the dilemma beyond particle metaphysics, but also a possible realist solution grounded on the provision of a new (non-classical) conceptual framework which seeks to develop an invariant-objective representation of the theory of quanta

The Dilemma of Quantum Individuality Beyond Particle Metaphysics

It is commonly claimed that quantum mechanics makes reference to a microscopic realm constituted by elementary particles. However, as first famously noticed by Erwin Schrödinger, it is not at all clear what these quantum particles really are. According to the specialized literature, it is not even clear if each of these microscopic entities possess their own identity. Recently, Jonas Arenhart proposed a distinction of quantum objects in terms of a dilemma which forces a choice between their characterization either as individuals or as non-individuals. In this work we attempt to address the (metaphysical) presuppositions involved within Arenhart’s dilemma which ground the question of individuality in QM on a strong presupposition regarding the existence of quantum objects. After providing a reconsideration of the role played by metaphysics within physics we attempt to propose, not only a complete redefinition of the dilemma beyond particle metaphysics, but also a possible realist solution grounded on the provision of a new (non-classical) conceptual framework which seeks to develop an invariant-objective representation of the theory of quanta