Inter-theory relations in quantum gravity: Correspondence, reduction, and emergence. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crowther, Karen
• Is Part Of: Studies in history and philosophy of modern physics. Volume 63(2018)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Spacetime -- Fundamentality -- Quantum gravity -- Reduction -- Emergence -- Correspondence principle; Physics -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Physics -- History -- Periodicals; 530.01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsb.2017.12.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-2198

Abstract

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. Highlights: The variety of roles that correspondence plays in the search for QG are illustrated. Reduction argued to be a special case of correspondence, and part of definition of QG. Relative fundamentality as asymmetrical dependence, used to classify approaches to QG. Emergence as relative fundamentality plus novelty and autonomy. GR likely emerges from QG; illustrated with examples from different approaches.