Abstract
There is an emerging story about many particle quantum mechanics (MPQM) and quantum field theory (QFT) based partly on views inherited from physics, and partly on new work, especially that of Paul Teller and Michael Redhead. Three important steps in the tale go like this—(a) The transition from classical mechanics (CM) to quantum mechanics (QM) involves a significant change in particle metaphysics, (b) QFT cannot be viewed as particulate even in a MPQM sense, although (c) an ontologically enlightening understanding of QFT can be obtained from the occupation representation. Though there is some truth to all of these claims, I wish to argue that, as usually understood, they are in fact false.The ever present danger in metaphysical debates such as these is that participants will be running around on the same pitch but playing different games; some waving cricket bats at the ball, some aiming for a netball hoop and others trying for a touch-down.
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