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

Preview

Text main.pdf Download (301kB) | Preview

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.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Crowther, Karen karen.crowther@unige.ch 000-0003-1558-4814
Additional Information:	Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, Volume 63, August 2018, Pages 74-85
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:	23 Nov 2018 14:08
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2018 14:08
Item ID:	15366
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2017.12.002
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1016/j.shpsb.2017.12.002
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/15366

Available Versions of this Item

• Inter-theory Relations in Quantum Gravity: Correspondence, Reduction, and Emergence. (deposited 01 Dec 2017 22:01)
  • Inter-theory Relations in Quantum Gravity: Correspondence, Reduction, and Emergence. (deposited 23 Nov 2018 14:08) [Currently Displayed]

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Altmetric.com

Actions (login required)

View Item