Indistinguishability

Abstract

This is a systematic review of the concept of indistinguishability in both classical and quantum mechanics, with particular attention to Gibbs' paradox. Section 1 is on the Gibbs paradox; section 2 is a defense of the concept of classical indistinguishability, that addresses (and refutes) the view that classical particles can always be distinguished by their trajectories so are distinguishable. Section 3 is on the notion of object more generally, and on whether indistinguishables should be thought of as objects at all

arXiv comment43 pages, 7 figures. Published as Ch.10, `Indistinguishability', in 'The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Physics', R. Batterman (ed.), Oxford, 2013, pp.340-380