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Single Idea 22630
[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 4. Standard Model / a. Concept of matter
]
Full Idea
We may wonder whether the fact that physics has calculated (and for some, confirmed) the decay rate of elementary particles can be a reason to think that they cannot really be ‘elementary’ in the philosophical sense of ‘indivisible’.
Gist of Idea
If particles have decay rates, they can't really be elementary, in the sense of indivisible
Source
R.D. Ingthorsson (A Powerful Particulars View of Causation [2021], 7.6)
Book Ref
'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time', ed/tr. Callender,Craig [OUP 2013], p.122
A Reaction
I don't think anything can ever conclusively be labelled as 'elementary', but this idea offers a reason for doubting whether a candidate particle is so basic. Does decay imply having parts?
The
20 ideas
with the same theme
[concept of matter emerging in modern physics]:
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15311
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Attraction or repulsion are not imparted to matter, but actually constitute it
[Priestley]
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17402
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Mendeleev saw three principles in nature: matter, force and spirit (where the latter seems to be essence)
[Mendeleev, by Scerri]
|
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21706
|
At first matter is basic and known by sense-data; later Russell says matter is constructed
[Russell, by Linsky,B]
|
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6470
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Matter is the limit of appearances as distance from the object diminishes
[Russell]
|
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7547
|
Matter requires a division into time-corpuscles as well as space-corpuscles
[Russell]
|
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7551
|
Matter is a logical construction
[Russell]
|
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17532
|
An atom's stability after collisions needs explaining (which Newton's mechanics can't do)
[Heisenberg]
|
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17537
|
Position is complementary to velocity or momentum, so the whole system is indeterminate
[Heisenberg]
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17551
|
It was formerly assumed that electromagnetic waves could not be a reality in themselves
[Heisenberg]
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20626
|
Modern theories of matter are grounded in heat, work and energy
[Close]
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6551
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'Physical' means either figuring in physics descriptions, or just located in space-time
[Lycan]
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9574
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'Gunk' is an individual possessing no parts that are atoms
[Chihara]
|
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20654
|
Only four particles are needed for matter: up and down quark, electron, electron-neutrino
[Watson]
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14900
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In physics, matter is an emergent phenomenon, not part of fundamental ontology
[Ladyman/Ross]
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14937
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That the universe must be 'made of' something is just obsolete physics
[Ladyman/Ross]
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17411
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If all elements are multiples of one (of hydrogen), that suggests once again that matter is unified
[Scerri]
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17420
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The stability of nuclei can be estimated through their binding energy
[Scerri]
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24161
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Thermodynamics sees nature as a continuous flow of energy, as radiation and as substance
[Baggott]
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20465
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Nature has three aspects: granularity, indeterminacy, and relations
[Rovelli]
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22630
|
If particles have decay rates, they can't really be elementary, in the sense of indivisible
[Ingthorsson]
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