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Full Idea
Although it is convenient to speak of electrons as particles or elementary substances, when they enter into relations they can 'lose their individuality. Then an electron becomes a kind of 'abstract particular', a way a given system is, a mode.
Gist of Idea
Electrons are treated as particles, but they lose their individuality in relations
Source
John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 03.7)
Book Ref
Heil,John: 'The Universe as We Find It' [OUP 2012], p.47
A Reaction
Heil rightly warns us against basing our metaphysics on disputed theories of quantum mechanics.
| 20631 | Dirac showed how electrons conform to special relativity [Close] |
| 20641 | Electrons get their mass by interaction with the Higgs field [Close] |
| 18520 | Electrons are treated as particles, but they lose their individuality in relations [Heil] |
| 20661 | Electrons rotate in hyrogen atoms 10^13 times per second [Watson] |
| 21205 | Many physicists believe particles have further structure, if only we could see it [Martin,BR] |
| 24163 | Free electrons have clouds of virtual particles, arising from field interaction [Baggott] |
| 21146 | Electrons move fast, so are subject to special relativity [New Sci.] |
| 20459 | Electrons only exist when they interact, and their being is their combination of quantum leaps [Rovelli] |
| 20460 | Electrons are not waves, because their collisions are at a point, and not spread out [Rovelli] |
| 21180 | Electrons are fundamental and are not made of anything; they are properties without size [Hesketh] |
| 21189 | Electrons may have smaller components, bound by a new force [Hesketh] |