On the possibility of property composition: A metaphysical investigation of submergent properties in top-down and bottom-up approaches to quantum mechanics

Abstract

In Schaffer’s Monism: priority of the whole (2010) an argument from quantum entanglement in favour of priority monism is put forward. The argument is based on quantum entanglement being a case of emergence and can loosely be described in terms of failure of property decomposition and success of property composition. The statement of property composition always succeeding has recently been challenged by Calosi (2017). I aim to make a case in favour of property composition by making use of a distinction between top-down and bottom-up approaches to quantum mechanics. My conclusion is that decomposition into components is subjective and partial, while a whole-system perspective is objective and general – wholes therefore contain all information found in parts and should be viewed with ontological priority.