Zinkernagel, Henrik (2006) The philosophy behind quantum gravity. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

This paper investigates some of the philosophical and conceptual issues raised by the search for a quantum theory of gravity. It is critically discussed whether such a theory is necessary in the first place, and how much would be accomplished if it is eventually constructed. I argue that the motivations behind, and expectations to, a theory of quantum gravity are entangled with central themes in the philosophy of science, in particular unification, reductionism, and the interpretation of quantum mechanics. I further argue that there are – contrary to claims made on behalf of string theory – no good reasons to think that a quantum theory of gravity, if constructed, will provide a theory of everything, that is, a fundamental theory from which all physics in principle can be derived.

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Item Type:	Other
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Zinkernagel, Henrik
Additional Information:	Published in "Theoria - An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science", Vol. 21/3, (San Sebastián, Spain), pp. 295-312.
Keywords:	Reductionism, Unity of Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Bohr
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Henrik Zinkernagel
Date Deposited:	07 Jun 2008
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:16
Item ID:	4050
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	September 2006
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4050

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