Books by Matteo Morganti
La filosofia e le scienze moderne si sono sviluppate a partire da uno stesso campo di indagine e ... more La filosofia e le scienze moderne si sono sviluppate a partire da uno stesso campo di indagine e continuano ad affrontare questioni comuni, ma oggi sono spesso considerate come due forme di conoscenza del tutto eterogenee. Il volume mette in evidenza la loro omogeneità, esaminando i problemi e le teorie che più hanno sollecitato la riflessione filosofica sulle scienze del XX secolo. Il lavoro congiunto degli autori – storici, filosofi e scienziati – fa emergere una dimensione filosofica delle teorie scientifiche contemporanee, che risulta ancora oggi fondamentale per il loro sviluppo e la loro interpretazione. Il percorso del libro attraversa temi come l’applicazione della matematica alla natura e l’assiomatizzazione della scienza, teorie come la relatività generale e la meccanica quantistica, campi di ricerca come l’intelligenza artificiale e le scienze cognitive, giungendo fino a questioni aperte della fisica teorica e della neurobiologia di oggi. Con il primo volume, dedicato a vicende e autori che vanno dalla rivoluzione copernicana alla teoria dell’evoluzione, compone un itinerario complessivo attraverso la storia comune della filosofia e delle scienze moderne e contemporanee, che si caratterizza per l’interdisciplinarità e per l’attenzione allo stato attuale delle ricerche.
Papers by Matteo Morganti
Th is paper looks at quantum theory and the Standard Model of elementary particles with a view to... more Th is paper looks at quantum theory and the Standard Model of elementary particles with a view to suggesting a detailed empirical implementation of trope ontology in harmony with our best physics.
Lebenswelt: Aesthetics and Philosophy of Experience, 2014
This essay aims to discuss a potential conflict between two intuitions about material objects: a ... more This essay aims to discuss a potential conflict between two intuitions about material objects: a 'pluralist' one, according to which every object belongs (or may belong) to more than one kind, and a 'reductionist' one, according to which there is only one fundamental type of things, i.e., material things. The former view threatens to translate a merely subjective matter of fact into an ontological fact, while the latter naturally leads to an outdated form of physicalism. What then? How to satisfy both the request for a precise ontology and the need to make sense of the richness of our experience of things? The paper reconstructs the general structure of the issue, and explores two ways of solving it via the formulation of an intermediate view.
This thesis examines the concepts of identity and individuality via scientifically-informed philo... more This thesis examines the concepts of identity and individuality via scientifically-informed philosophical analysis. It has two parts. The first part deals with metaphysical claims that turn out to be, in effect, very general empirical claims extracted from our (supposed, but rationally-accredited) knowledge of the world. I here compare two approaches: a) the Leibniz-Quine view of identity as a derivative relation, and, relatedly, of individuality as dependent on the qualities of things; and b) the view that identity is a non-analysable primitive, and, relatedly, that the individuality of things is not reducible to anything else. The former position, based on the Principle of the Identity of the Indiscernibles as a criterion of individuation, might appear prima facie more plausible. However, I argue that it runs into difficulties both at the level of a priori analysis and in terms of 'fit' with the evidence described by our best science. It is, in fact, not even as compelling...
Einstein vs. Bergson, 2021
This paper discusses the view according to which time is not an objectivefeature of reality,i nde... more This paper discusses the view according to which time is not an objectivefeature of reality,i ndependent of the knowing subject. Rather than attemptingt op rovide an exhaustive historical reconstruction of the debate concerning the (un)reality of time, we will proceed by looking at two paradigmatic and rather different arguments to the effect that time is an illusion: awell-known, purelyphilosophical argument due to McTaggart,and an argument (or,m aybe better,afamilyof considerations) comingf rom contemporary research in physics,i np articular quantum gravity.I nteresting common aspects will be emphasized and, in closing,af ew more general considerations will be made.¹ 1I ntroduction One of the keyfeatures of our commonsense perception of the world is no doubt its being temporal. It seems simply obvious to anyone that time passes, and that everything is affected by this.² Similarly,p hilosophersa nd scientists alike often take for granted the existenceoftime, at least as long as they inquireinto other aspectso ft he world. However,u pon reflection, it turns out that it is not at all obvious thatt ime is an objective feature of reality,i ndependent of the knowing subject. Indeed, arguments have been provided by both philosophers and physicists in favorofantirealism about time,i.e., the thesis that time is an illusion, a mere by-product of our experienceo fat imeless reality.While there are several such arguments in the literature,h ere we willd iscuss in some detail two of them: one due to the British idealist philosopher John McTaggart,t he other based on very recent research in physics,a nd formulatedi naparticularlyp erspicuous wayb yp hysicist Julian Barbour.The rationale behind this is twofold. On the one hand,proceeding in this waymakes it possible to see that antirealism The author gratefullyacknowledgest he financial support receivedb yt he MIUR,I talian Ministry of Education, University and Research, throughthe PRIN 2017 project "The Manifest Image and the Scientific Image"-grant number 2017ZNWW7F. It also appears undisputable that thereisanobjective,globaldistinction between whatispresent and what is futureo rp ast,b ut this is not the issue that interests us here.
The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 2018
We put forward a new, ‘coherentist’ account of quantum entanglement, according to which entangled... more We put forward a new, ‘coherentist’ account of quantum entanglement, according to which entangled systems are characterized by symmetric relations of ontological dependence among the component particles. We compare this coherentist viewpoint with the two most popular alternatives currently on offer—structuralism and holism—and argue that it is essentially different from, and preferable to, both. In the course of this article, we point out how coherentism might be extended beyond the case of entanglement and further articulated. 1Introduction2Quantum Dependence 2.1From entanglement to dependence2.2Relations of dependence3Structuralism and Holism4Against Structuralism5Against Holism6Coherentism 6.1Coherentism: The account6.2Coherentism: The best of both worlds?7Conclusion
Istituto Lombardo - Accademia di Scienze e Lettere - Incontri di Studio, 2019
In the present paper, I aim to point out the shortcomings of those rather popular ‘radical’ natur... more In the present paper, I aim to point out the shortcomings of those rather popular ‘radical’ naturalistic approaches to philosophy (especially metaphysics) according to which the latter can either be made dependent on, or altogether eliminated in favour of, science (especially physics). Based on a case study concerning the ontology of quantum entities, I will argue that – since metaphysical and scientific hypotheses are equally underdetermined by the empirical data – a moderate naturalistic approach is preferable, whereby metaphysics and physics are to be intended as complementary activities.
European Journal for Philosophy of Science, 2018
The present paper argues that the typical structuralist claims according to which invariances, sy... more The present paper argues that the typical structuralist claims according to which invariances, symmetries and the like are fundamental-especially in quantum physics-are best understood not in terms of physical relations being fundamental, but rather in terms of 'metaphysical coherentism'-the view according to which object-like parts of reality exhibit symmetric relations of ontological dependence. The coherentist perspective is developed in some detail and contrasted with extant varieties of structuralism and holism.
Theoria, 2017
The topic of this article is the ontology of practical reasons. We draw a critical comparison bet... more The topic of this article is the ontology of practical reasons. We draw a critical comparison between two views. According to the first, practical reasons are states of affairs; according to the second, they are propositions. We first isolate and spell out in detail certain objections to the second view that can be found only in embryonic form in the literaturein particular, in the work of Jonathan Dancy. Next, we sketch possible ways in which one might respond to each one of these objections. A careful evaluation of these complaints and responses, we argue, shows that the first view is not as obviously compelling as it is thought by Dancy. Indeed, it turns out that the view that practical reasons are propositions is by no means unworkable and in fact, at least under certain assumptions, explicit considerations can be made in favour of a propositional construal of reasons.
Philosophy, 2016
This paper examines the discussion concerning temporal vacua, originated by Shoemaker's famou... more This paper examines the discussion concerning temporal vacua, originated by Shoemaker's famous 1969 paper, in connection to relationism about time – roughly, the view that time is nothing over and above a network of relations between things. A novel solution to the problem allegedly constituted by temporal vacua is presented, which turns out to call for, and support, a formulation of relationism that differs from the usual ones. In particular, it is argued that relationism requires neither actual nor merely possible modifications in the qualities or positions of things, and can be made entirely independent of the notion of change.
Combining Science and Metaphysics, 2013
In a recent paper, Sun Demirli (2010) proposes an allegedly new way of conceiving of individuatio... more In a recent paper, Sun Demirli (2010) proposes an allegedly new way of conceiving of individuation in the context of the bundle theory of object constitution. He suggests that allowing for distance relations to individuate objects solves the problems with worlds containing indiscernible objects that would otherwise affect the theory. The aim of the present paper is i) To show that Demirli"s proposal falls short of achieving this goal and ii) To carry out a more general critical assessment of the issue by appraising the costs and benefits of Demirli"s view as well as of existing alternatives.
Metaphysics in Contemporary Physics, 2016
Philosophia Scientae, 2015
This paper discusses the issue of the identity and individuality (or lack thereof) of quantum mec... more This paper discusses the issue of the identity and individuality (or lack thereof) of quantum mechanical particles. It first reconstructs, on the basis of the extant literature, a general argument in favour of the conclusion that such particles are not individual objects. Then, it critically assesses each one of the argument’s premises. The upshot is that, in fact, there is no compelling reason for believing that quantum particles are not individual objects.
Philosophy of Science, 2009
Teller argued that violations of Bell's inequalities are to be explained by interpreting quan... more Teller argued that violations of Bell's inequalities are to be explained by interpreting quantum entangled systems according to ‘relational holism’, that is, by postulating that they exhibit irreducible (‘inherent’) relations. Teller also suggested a possible application of this idea to quantum statistics. However, the basic proposal was not explained in detail nor has the additional idea about statistics been articulated in further work. In this article, I reconsider relational holism, amending it and spelling it out as appears necessary for a proper assessment, and application, of the position.
The philosophy of science is going through exciting times. New and productive relationships are b... more The philosophy of science is going through exciting times. New and productive relationships are being sought with the history of science. Illuminating and innovative comparisons are being developed between the philosophy of science and the philosophy of art. The role of mathematics in science is being opened up to renewed scrutiny in the light of original case studies. The philosophies of particular sciences are both drawing on and feeding into new work in metaphysics and the relationships between science, metaphysics and the philosophy of science in general are being reexamined and reconfigured.
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Books by Matteo Morganti
Papers by Matteo Morganti