Individuals Across Sciences: a revisionary metaphysics?
18-20 May 2012 Paris (France)
Saturday 19
The dynamical emergence of individuals in physics - Simon Saunders, University of Oxford
Chairperson: Jean-Baptiste Rauzy (Paris-Sorbonne University)
› 10:00 - 11:00 (1h)
› Maison de la Recherche
The dynamical emergence of individuals in physics
Simon Saunders  1, *@  
1 : University of Oxford
* : Corresponding author

I shall show how distinguishable particles can arise from indistinguishable ones, with an accompanying change in statistical behaviour, by virtue of dynamically stable individuating properties in a suitable regime. Since all stable physical systems (from atoms and molecules up) are composed of indistinguishable particles the method has wide application. Distinguishability and individuality are in this sense shown to be emergent.

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