E. J.Lowe on vague identity and quantum indeterminacy

Abstract

1. In his article 'Vague Identity and Quantum Indeterminacy'[4], Jonathan Lowe (a) claims that current quantum theory provides intelligible examples of ontically indeterminate identity statements and (b) makes a novel and extremely ingenious suggestion about how a believer in such ontic indeterminacy can respond to Gareth Evans's famous argument against vagueness de re. In what follows I argue that in both respects Lowe's article is unconvincing. Getting clear about why this is so will be useful, for it will bring out an element of generality in Evans's argument which has not, I think, been widely appreciated.