Identity and Persistence: Becoming Entities in a Relational World

Classical metaphysics often treats identity as the persistence of discrete, self-contained objects through time. However, quantum physics and complex systems theory challenge this view, revealing entities as dynamic, interdependent processes rather than static things.

In this post, we explore how identity and persistence emerge from relational becoming, where entities are stable patterns of coherence sustained within evolving fields of constraint.

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1. The Challenge of Identity in Physics

Traditional identity assumes:

• Objects have intrinsic, unchanging essences,

• Persistence through time is a matter of maintaining these essences.

Quantum phenomena—such as indistinguishability of particles and entanglement—complicate this:

• Particles lack intrinsic identity independent of context,

• States are relationally defined, not absolute.

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2. Relational Ontology: Entities as Patterns of Coherence

From a relational perspective:

• Entities are processes rather than things,

• Identity is a temporally sustained pattern of relational coherence,

• Persistence depends on the maintenance of systemic constraints that stabilise these patterns.

This aligns with insights from:

• Systems theory (autopoiesis, self-organisation),

• Process philosophy (Whitehead’s actual occasions),

• Contemporary philosophy of biology.

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3. Implications for Understanding Objects and Systems

This view implies:

• Objects do not have fixed boundaries but fluid, context-dependent borders,

• Persistence is an ongoing achievement requiring continual relational negotiation,

• Identity is fundamentally dynamic, emergent, and context-sensitive.

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4. Connections to Quantum and Biological Systems

In quantum mechanics:

• Particles emerge as excitations of fields,

• Their “identity” is contingent on relational interactions.

In biology:

• Organisms are self-maintaining systems,

• Their identity depends on homeostatic regulation and environmental coupling.

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Closing

Recognising identity as relational becoming reshapes our understanding of persistence and individuation. Entities are not static substances but living patterns of coherence within a flux of relations.

In the next post, we will consider the ethical and epistemological consequences of this relational worldview: How does it challenge our assumptions about knowledge, responsibility, and agency?