The metaphysics of emergent spacetime theories
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4080055 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Niels C M Martens (0000-0002-2839-1387, RWTH Aachen University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Publication date | 2019-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Philosophy Compass (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1747-9991 • E-ISSN: 1747-9991 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/phc3.12596 |
| OpenAlex | W2965083626 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 53 |
The debate concerning the ontological status of spacetime is standardly construed as a dilemma between substantivalism and relationalism. I argue that a trilemma is more appropriate, emergent spacetime theories being the third category. Traditional philosophical arguments do not distinguish between emergent spacetime and substantivalism. It is arguments from physics that suggest giving up substantivalism in favour of emergent spacetime theories. The remaining new dilemma is between emergent spacetime and relationalism. I provide a list of questions, which one should consider when discussing emergent spacetime theories, and apply them to a quantum superfluid toy model of emergent spacetime
Causal sets · Dilemma · Epistemology · Metaphysics · Physics · Quantum · Quantum field theory in curved spacetime · Quantum gravity · Quantum mechanics · Spacetime · Spacetime topology · Stationary spacetime · Theoretical physics · Cosmology and Gravitation Theories · Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories · Philosophy · Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Physical Relativity
Geometric Possibility
Effective spacetime geometry
Conservation, inertia, and spacetime geometry
Have we lost spacetime on the way? Narrowing the gap between general relativity and quantum gravity
The case for black hole thermodynamics part I
Hints towards the emergent nature of gravity
Proving the principle
The emergence of spacetime in condensed matter approaches to quantum gravity
Dark matter = modified gravity? Scrutinising the spacetime–matter distinction through the modified gravity/ dark matter lens
Physical relativity from a functionalist perspective
To Quantize or Not to Quantize
Reflections on Parity Nonconservation
Buckets of Water and Waves of Space
The Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence
What Price Spacetime Substantivalism? The Hole Story
Mass–Energy–Momentum
Sophistication about Symmetries
Functional Gravitational Energy
Quantum gravity and the nature of space and time
Substantivalism vs Relationalism About Space in Classical Physics
| Unique citing works | 7 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,17 |
| Citation span | 2020 - 2026 (7) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |