CFP: Special Issue on the Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles

Call for Papers

Special Issue on the Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles

Manuscrito: International Journal of Philosophy invites submissions in English for a special issue devoted to the Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles (PII).

Guest Editor: Leonardo G. S. Videira (University of São Paulo – FAPESP)

The Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles (PII), in its most widespread formulation, states that any two things sharing all the same properties are in fact identical; in other words, no two distinct things share all their properties. Despite its apparent simplicity, the principle has remained one of the most contested theses in the history of metaphysics. Classical and contemporary counterexamples – such as Kant’s droplets, Black’s spheres, and entangled bosons – appear to involve numerically distinct yet indiscernible entities, thereby challenging the principle's truth.

Debates concerning the PII extend well beyond the question of its truth or falsity, however. They encompass issues regarding the interpretation of its constituent notions, the modal status of the principle, and the nature of the necessity, if any, that underwrites it. Moreover, the PII plays a central role in a wide range of philosophical discussions, including the dispute between bundle and substratum theories, the ontology of quantum mechanics, the metaphysics of mathematical objects, and the relationship between indiscernibility and identity.

The last two decades have witnessed significant developments in these debates. This special issue aims to bring together contributions that advance our understanding of the PII, its implications, and its applications across different areas of philosophy.

Confirmed Contributors

·            Décio Krause (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)

·            Jonas R. B. Arenhart (Federal University of Santa Catarina)

·            Raoni Arroyo (Federal University of Santa Catarina)

·            Rafael de Clercq (Lingnan University)

·            Olimpia Lombardi (University of Buenos Aires – CONICET)

·            F. A. Muller (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Topics of Interest

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

·            Historical approaches to the Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles

·            Arguments for and against the PII

·            Interpretations of the notions involved in the formulation of the PII

·            The modal status of the PII

·            The PII and the grounding of identity

·            Epistemological aspects of indiscernibility and identity

·            The PII in the philosophy of physics

·            The PII in the philosophy of mathematics

·            The PII in the philosophy of religion

·            Assessments of actual and fictional counterexamples to the PII

·            Connections between the PII and contemporary theories of objects, properties, and individuation

Submission Information

Deadline for submissions: September 20, 2026

Accepted papers will be published in late 2026 or early 2027.

Author guidelines are available at:

http://www.scielo.br/revistas/man/iinstruc.htm

Submissions should be made through the Manuscrito Editorial Manager:

https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/man-scielo

Please indicate in your submission that the manuscript is intended for the special issue on the Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles.

Contact

For further information, please contact:

Leonardo G. S. Videira

[email protected]