Cosmic hylomorphism: a powerist ontology of quantum mechanics

William Simpson

doi:10.1007/s13194-020-00342-5

Cosmic hylomorphism: a powerist ontology of quantum mechanics

William Simpson^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Divinity

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The primitive ontology approach to quantum mechanics seeks to account for quantum phenomena in terms of a distribution of matter in three-dimensional space (or four-dimensional spacetime) and a law of nature that describes its temporal development. This approach to explaining quantum phenomena is compatible with either a Humean or powerist account of laws. In this paper, I offer a powerist ontology in which the law is specified by Bohmian mechanics for a global configuration of particles. Unlike in other powerist ontologies, however, this law is not grounded in a structural power that is instantiated by the global configuration. Instead, I combine the primitive ontology approach with Aristotle’s doctrine of hylomorphism to create a new metaphysical model, in which the cosmos is a hylomorphic substance with an intrinsic power to choreograph the trajectories of the particles.

Original language	English
Article number	28
Number of pages	25
Journal	European Journal for Philosophy of Science
Volume	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-020-00342-5
Publication status	Published - 15 Jan 2021

Keywords

Primitive ontology
Quantum mechanics
Powers
Hylomorphism

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AB - The primitive ontology approach to quantum mechanics seeks to account for quantum phenomena in terms of a distribution of matter in three-dimensional space (or four-dimensional spacetime) and a law of nature that describes its temporal development. This approach to explaining quantum phenomena is compatible with either a Humean or powerist account of laws. In this paper, I offer a powerist ontology in which the law is specified by Bohmian mechanics for a global configuration of particles. Unlike in other powerist ontologies, however, this law is not grounded in a structural power that is instantiated by the global configuration. Instead, I combine the primitive ontology approach with Aristotle’s doctrine of hylomorphism to create a new metaphysical model, in which the cosmos is a hylomorphic substance with an intrinsic power to choreograph the trajectories of the particles.

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JF - European Journal for Philosophy of Science

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ER -

Cosmic hylomorphism: a powerist ontology of quantum mechanics

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