Does weak discernibility determine metaphysics?

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Published 27-02-2017
Jonas Rafael Becker Arenhart

Abstract

Two entities are weakly discernible when an irreflexive and symmetric relation holds between them. That weak discernibility holds in quantum mechanics is fairly uncontroversial nowadays. The ontological consequences of weak discernibility, however, are far from clear. Part of the literature seems to imply that weak discernibility points to a definite metaphysics to quantum mechanics. In this paper we shall discuss the metaphysical contribution of weak discernibility to quantum mechanics and argue that, contrary to part of current literature, it does not provide for a fully naturalistic determination of metaphysics. Underdetermination of the metaphysics still plagues the way of the naturalist.

How to Cite

Arenhart, J. R. B. (2017). Does weak discernibility determine metaphysics?. THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 32(1), 109–125. https://doi.org/10.1387/theoria.15870
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Keywords

weak discernibility, ontic structural realism, naturalistic metaphysics, metaphysical underdetermination.

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