Fundamental physics contains an important link between properties of elementary particles and continuous symmetries of particle systems. For example, properties such as mass and spin are said to be 'associated' with specific continuous symmetries. This link has played a key role in the discovery of various new particle kinds, but more importantly: it is thought to provide a deep insight into the nature of physical reality.

The link between properties and symmetries has been said to call for a radical revision of perceived metaphysical orthodoxy. However, if we are to use claims about a link between properties and symmetries in the articulation of metaphysical views, we first need to develop a sufficiently precise understanding of the content of these claims. The goal of this paper is to do just that.

基本物理学包含基本粒子的性质与粒子系统的连续对称性之间的重要联系。例如，诸如质量和自旋之类的属性据说与特定的连续对称性“相关”。该链接在发现各种新的粒子种类中发挥了关键作用，但更重要的是：它被认为可以提供对物理现实本质的深入了解。

据说属性和对称性之间的联系要求对感知的形而上学正统观念进行彻底的修改。但是，如果我们要在形而上学观点的表达中使用关于属性和对称性之间联系的主张，那么我们首先需要对这些主张的内容发展出足够精确的理解。本文的目的就是要做到这一点。