The structural foundations of quantum gravity

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Bibliographic Information

The structural foundations of quantum gravity

edited by Dean Rickles, Steven French, and Juha Saatsi

Clarendon Press, c2006

Available at  / 6 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Quantum gravity is the name given to a theory that unites general relativity - Einstein's theory of gravitation and spacetime - with quantum field theory, our framework for describing non-gravitational forces. The Structural Foundations of Quantum Gravity brings together philosophers and physicists to discuss a range of conceptual issues that surface in the effort to unite these theories, focusing in particular on the ontological nature of the spacetime that results. Although there has been a great deal written about quantum gravity from the perspective of physicists and mathematicians, very little attention has been paid to the philosophical aspects. This volume closes that gap, with essays written by some of the leading researchers in the field. Individual papers defend or attack a structuralist perspective on the fundamental ontologies of our physical theories, which offers the possibility of shedding new light on a number of foundational problems. It is a book that will be of interest not only to physicists and philosophers of physics but to anyone concerned with foundational issues and curious to explore new directions in our understanding of spacetime and quantum physics.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Quantum Gravity Meets Structuralism: Interweaving Relations in the Foundations of Physics
  • 2. Structural Realism and Quantum Gravity
  • 3. Structure, Individuality, and Quantum Gravity
  • 4. Points, Particles, and Structural Realism
  • 5. Holism and Structuralism in Classical and Quantum GR
  • 6. Time and Structure in Canonical Gravity
  • 7. The Case for Background Independence
  • 8. Quantum Quandaries: A Category-Theoretic Perspective

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Details

  • NCID
    BA79454898
  • ISBN
    • 9780199269693
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Oxford
  • Pages/Volumes
    xii, 270 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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