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The Principle of the Identity of Indiscernible (PII) in Philosophy of Physics: An Example of Organizing Principles (Departmental Seminar)

Joining the Seminar face-to-face:
Limited seats for face-to-face seminar. Registrations will be handled on a first come, first served basis.
Register by 18 January 2024: https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13680877

Joining the Seminar online:
No registration is required.
Link: https://cuhk.zoom.us/j/95170433376
Meeting ID: 951 7043 3376

Enquiries:
Tel: 3943 7135
Email: philosophy@cuhk.edu.hk

Abstract:

In this paper, I discuss three organizing principles: Principle of the Identity of Indiscernible (PII), Determinism, and Locality. These principles together form the foundation of experimental and theoretical physics. Organizing principles are those that must be assumed to be a working hypothesis to perform experiments and interpret their results, and so cannot be affected by results of such experiments: PII (“[t]hings which are different must differ in something or must have within themselves some diversity that can be noted” (L529)) that helps us to identify a physical event as “the same” as another physical event; “Determinism” that tells us that a physical event can pertain to one and only one trajectory of events, hence it allows us to individuate physical events in time; and “Locality” allows us to separate one physical event from another, hence it allows us to individuate physical events in space. My argument and examples only stay in the domain of non-relativistic quantum mechanics. The generalization of the investigation is limited to this realm.

My argument is twofold. First, I will argue that the three pillars above are necessary pre- conditions for experimental and theoretical physics, as they allow us to conduct experiments that underwrite physical laws. Second, I will argue that since these three principles are all principles of what it means to be “the same” (in general, in space, in time), then if one of them fails, all of them fail.

Delivered in English.
All are welcome.

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