Crowther, Karen and Linnemann, Niels (2017) Renormalizability, fundamentality and a final theory: The role of UV-completion in the search for quantum gravity. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Principles are central to physical reasoning, particularly in the search for a theory of quantum gravity (QG), where novel empirical data is lacking. One principle widely adopted in the search for QG is UV completion: the idea that a theory should (formally) hold up to all possible high energies. We argue contra standard scientific practice --- that UV-completion is poorly-motivated as a guiding principle in theory-construction, and cannot be used as a criterion of theory-justification in the search for QG. For this, we explore the reasons for expecting, or desiring, a UV-complete theory, as well as analyse how UV completion is used, and how it should be used, in various specific approaches to QG.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Crowther, Karen karen.crowther@unige.ch 000-0003-1558-4814 Linnemann, Niels nielslinnemann@aol.com 0000-0002-3695-8611
Keywords:	Spacetime; Renormalization group; Effective field theory; Unification; String theory; Asymptotic safety
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity General Issues > Structure of Theories
Depositing User:	Niels Linnemann
Date Deposited:	19 May 2017 14:37
Last Modified:	19 May 2017 14:37
Item ID:	13049
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity General Issues > Structure of Theories
Date:	18 May 2017
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/13049

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• Renormalizability, fundamentality and a final theory: The role of UV-completion in the search for quantum gravity. (deposited 19 May 2017 14:37) [Currently Displayed]
  • Renormalizability, fundamentality and a final theory: The role of UV-completion in the search for quantum gravity. (deposited 12 Jun 2017 18:33)
    • Renormalizability, fundamentality and a final theory: The role of UV-completion in the search for quantum gravity. (deposited 16 Jul 2017 18:24)

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