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Inter-theory Relations in Quantum Gravity: Correspondence, Reduction, and Emergence

Crowther, Karen (2017) Inter-theory Relations in Quantum Gravity: Correspondence, Reduction, and Emergence. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Relationships between current theories, and relationships between current theories and the sought theory of quantum gravity (QG), play an essential role in motivating the need for QG, aiding the search for QG, and defining what would count as QG. Correspondence is the broad class of inter-theory relationships intended to demonstrate the necessary compatibility of two theories whose domains of validity overlap, in the overlap regions. The variety of roles that correspondence plays in the search for QG are illustrated, using examples from specific QG approaches. Reduction is argued to be a special case of correspondence, and to form part of the definition of QG. Finally, the appropriate account of emergence in the context of QG is presented, and compared to conceptions of emergence in the broader philosophy literature. It is argued that, while emergence is likely to hold between QG and general relativity, emergence is not part of the definition of QG, and nor can it serve usefully in the development and justification of the new theory.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Crowther, Karenkaren.crowther@unige.ch000-0003-1558-4814
Keywords: Spacetime, general relativity, fundamentality, quantum gravity, reduction, emergence, correspondence principle
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User: Dr. Karen Crowther
Date Deposited: 01 Dec 2017 22:01
Last Modified: 01 Dec 2017 22:01
Item ID: 14163
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
General Issues > Theory Change
Date: December 2017
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14163

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