Butterfield, Jeremy (2024) En Route to Reduction: Lorentzian Manifolds and Causal Sets. [Preprint]
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Text (Forthcoming in ‘Time and Timelessness in Fundamental Physics and Cosmology’, edited by S. De Bianchi, M. Forgione and L. Marongiu; Springer.)
MilanForArchives15Jan24.pdf - Accepted Version Download (407kB) | Preview |
Abstract
I present aspects of causal set theory (a research programme in quantum gravity) as being en route to achieving a reduction of Lorentzian geometry to causal sets. I take reduction in philosophers' sense; and I argue that the prospects are good for there being a reduction of the type envisaged by Nagel. (I also discuss the prospects for the stronger functionalist variant of Nagelian reduction, that was formulated by Lewis.)
One main theme will be causal set theory's use of a physical scale (viz. the Planck scale) to formulate how it recovers a Lorentzian manifold. This use illustrates various philosophical topics relevant to reduction, such as limiting relations between theories, and the role of analogy. I also emphasise causal set theory's probabilistic method, viz. Poisson sprinkling: which is used both for formulating the reduction and for exploring its prospects.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Additional Information: | Forthcoming in ‘Time and Timelessness in Fundamental Physics and Cosmology’, edited by S. De Bianchi, M. Forgione and L. Marongiu; Springer. | ||||||
| Keywords: | quantum gravity, causal sets, reduction, functionalist reduction, Hauptvermutung, Poisson sprinkling, statistical angle | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity General Issues > Reductionism/Holism Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory |
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| Depositing User: | Jeremy Butterfield | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 15 Jan 2024 23:50 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 15 Jan 2024 23:50 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 22984 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity General Issues > Reductionism/Holism Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory |
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| Date: | January 2024 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22984 |
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