Interpreting Bodies

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Bewildering features of modern physics, such as relativistic space-time and quantum statistics, challenge traditional conceptions of objects in space and time. This collection of essays by prominent philosophers and scientists offers a unique overview of the implications of these physical theories for understanding the nature of objects. It includes classic works by Max Born, Werner Heisenberg, Hans Reichenbach, and Erwin Schrödinger, alongside recent contributions, some of which are previously unpublished. The focus is on microphysical objects central to quantum physics, addressing foundational and philosophical debates about objects. Contributors examine how to identify a physical object as an individual, the concept of invariance regarding what objects are or could be, and the relationship between objective, measurable properties and physical entities. The essays engage with traditional philosophical topics, common-sense questions, and technical matters, presenting them in a clear and rigorous manner. This collection illuminates some of the most perplexing challenges in modern physics and the philosophy of science, featuring contributions from Diederik Aerts, Elena Castellani, Maria Luisa Dalla Chiara, Bas C. van Fraassen, Steven French, Gian Carlo Ghirardi, Roberto Giuntini, Decio Krause, David Lewis, Tim Maudlin, Peter Mittelstaedt, Giulio Peruzzi, Paul Teller, and Giuliano Toraldo di Francia.