Classical matter

bodies and fields

pp. 23-40

in: Mario Bunge, Matter and mind, Berlin, Springer, 2010

Abstract

Unsurprisingly, matter has been conceived of differently at different times. This chapter and the next are devoted to updating the concept of matter. We shall call classon any material thing that comes within the purview of classical physics, and quanton any thing describable, at least in principle, by a quantum theory. Specks of dust, organisms and galaxies are classons, whereas photons, electrons, and superconductors are quantons.