This paper investigates the use of theories of mechanics (classical and quantum) to provide answers to questions in the metaphysics of spatial location and persistence. Investigating spatial location, I find that in classical physics bodies pertend the region of space at which they are exactly located, while a quantum system spans a region at which it is exactly located. Following this analysis, I present a ‘no-go’ result which shows that quantum mechanics (conventionally interpreted) restricts the available options for locational persistence theories in an interesting way: it demonstrates that the spatiotemporal path of a persisting thing is discrete (or discontinuous) in time. This leads to unpalatable consequences for both perdurantists and endurantists. In particular, I argue that Butterfield’s ‘anti-pointilliste’ perdurantism is ruled out, and show that endurantists relying on immanent causation run into trouble. I conclude by suggesting the revival of Whitehead’s alternative mode of persistence called ‘reiteration.’

中文翻译：

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事情如何持续？物理学中的位置关系和持久性的形而上学

本文研究了使用力学理论（经典和量子）来为空间位置和持久性的形而上学问题提供答案。在研究空间位置时，我发现在经典物理学中，物体与它们准确位于的空间区域有关，而量子系统则跨越它恰好位于的区域。在此分析之后，我提出了一个“禁止”结果，该结果表明量子力学（按惯例解释）以一种有趣的方式限制了位置持久性理论的可用选项：它表明持久性事物的时空路径是离散的（或不连续的） ) 及时。这导致持久主义者和耐力主义者都感到不愉快的后果。特别是，我认为巴特菲尔德的“反点画派”持久主义被排除在外，并表明依赖内在因果关系的耐力主义者遇到了麻烦。最后，我建议怀特黑德的另一种持久性模式（称为“重复”）的复兴。