Single Idea 14946

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects]

Full Idea

At the quantum scale there are no cats; at scales appropriate for astrophysics there are no mountains.

Gist of Idea

There are no cats in quantum theory, and no mountains in astrophysics

Source

J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 4.2)

Book Reference

Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.199


A Reaction

I don't find this convincing. Since cats are made of quantised entities, they do exist in that world, but are of little interest when trying to understand it. Similarly, astrophysicists hardly deny the existence of mountains!

Related Idea

Idea 14944 There is no single view of individuals, because different sciences operate on different scales [Ladyman/Ross]