Loop Quantum Gravity: A New Threat to Humeanism? Part I: The Problem of Spacetime

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985955%3A_____%2F19%3A00504638" target="_blank" >RIV/67985955:_____/19:00504638 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10701-019-00242-6" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10701-019-00242-6</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10701-019-00242-6" target="_blank" >10.1007/s10701-019-00242-6</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Loop Quantum Gravity: A New Threat to Humeanism? Part I: The Problem of Spacetime

Original language description

In this paper, I discuss whether the results of loop quantum gravity (LQG) constitute a fatal blow to Humeanism. There is at least a prima facie reason for believing so: while Humeanism regards spatiotemporal relations as fundamental, LQG describes the fundamental layer of our reality in terms of spin networks, which are not in spacetime. However, the question should be tackled more carefully. After explaining the importance of the debate on the tenability of Humeanism in light of LQG, and having presented the Humean doctrine, I review two cases which present serious threats to Humeanism, one concerning the fundamentality of vectorial quantities and the other concerning quantum entanglement. In particular, I recall the strategies that are usually employed in these two cases in order to save Humeanism: in the first case, the strategy consists in amending the characterization of the Humean mosaic, in the second case, it consists in adopting a realist or nomological interpretation of the wave function. These solutions will turn out to be helpful in my discussion of LQG where, after describing LQG, I show that Humeans might save their doctrine either by endorsing a realist interpretation of spin networks, or by giving them a nomological status and, at the same time, by revisiting the characterization of the Humean mosaic. However, I conclude that both solutions are wanting.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

60301 - Philosophy, History and Philosophy of science and technology

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2019

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Foundations of Physics

ISSN

0015-9018

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

49

Issue of the periodical within the volume

3

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

28

Pages from-to

232-259

UT code for WoS article

000462458600004

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85062728424