Butterfield, Jeremy (2007) Reconsidering Relativistic Causality. [Preprint]
![[img]](https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png)
|
PDF
ReconsRelCausyLongAug07.pdf Download (307kB) |
Abstract
I discuss the idea of relativistic causality, i.e. the requirement that causal processes or signals can propagate only within the light-cone. After briefly locating this requirement in the philosophy of causation, my main aim is to draw philosophers' attention to the fact that it is subtle, indeed problematic, in relativistic quantum physics: there are scenarios in which it seems to fail. I consign to an Appendix two such scenarios, which are familiar to philosophers of physics: the pilot-wave approach, and the Newton-Wigner representation. I instead stress two unfamiliar scenarios: the Drummond-Hathrell and Scharnhorst effects. These effects also illustrate a general moral in the philosophy of geometry: that the mathematical structures, especially the metric tensor, that represent geometry get their geometric significance by dint of detailed physical arguments.
| Export/Citation: | EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL |
| Social Networking: |
| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creators: |
|
||||||
| Additional Information: | Forthcoming (after an Appendectomy) in International Studies in the Philosophy of Science | ||||||
| Keywords: | relativistic causality, superluminal signalling, quantum electrodynamics, the Drummond-Hathrell effect, the Scharnhorst effect, pilot-wave theory | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory |
||||||
| Depositing User: | Jeremy Butterfield | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 17 Aug 2007 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2010 15:15 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 3469 | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory |
||||||
| Date: | August 2007 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/3469 |
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}