The foundation of reality fundamentality, space, and time / edited by David Glick, George Darby and Anna Marmodoro.

Format Electronic
EditionFirst edition.
Publication InfoOxford : Oxford University Press, 2020.
Descriptionxii, 273 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Supplemental ContentFull text available from Oxford Scholarship Online
Subjects
Reality.

Other author/creatorGlick, David.
Other author/creatorDarby, George (Philosopher)
Other author/creatorMarmodoro, Anna, 1975-
Other author/creatorOxford University Press.
Contents Introduction -- I.1 Concepts of Fundamentality and Emergence -- I.1.1 Fundamentality and Emergence in Metaphysics -- I.1.2 Fundamentality and Emergence in the Philosophy of Physics -- I.2 Substantivalism and Relationalism -- I.3 Quantum Theory and Spacetime Non-fundamentality -- I.3.1 Wavefunction Realism -- I.3.2 Super-Humeanism -- I.4 Quantum Gravity and Emergent Spacetime -- I.4.1 Some Approaches to Quantum Gravity
Contents I.1.2 Problems of Emergent Spacetime -- Acknowledgement -- SECTION 1: The Metaphysics of Fundamentality -- 1: Fundamentality and Non-Symmetric Relations -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Converse Relations -- 1.2.1 Relational Properties -- 1.2.2 Converses: Strict and Loose -- 1.3 Fundamental Symmetric Relations -- 1.3.1 Fundamental Theorising -- 1.4 Derivative Non-symmetric Relations -- 1.4.1 Asymmetric Structures -- 1.4.2 Internal Relations -- 1.4.3 Absolutism v. Comparativism -- 1.5 Identity Criteria for Derivative Relations -- 1.5.1 Individuating Fundamental Relations
Contents 1.5.2 Relational Expressions and Conventions -- 1.5.3 Reflecting Differences v. Inducing Order -- 1.5.4 Symmetric Instantiations -- 1.5.5 Cross-Relation Comparisons -- 1.6 Generative Operations -- 1.6.1 Causation as a Generative Operation -- 1.6.2 Grounding as a Generative Operation -- 1.7 Conclusion -- 2: Classifying Dependencies -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Causation and Grounding -- 2.3 Against the Distinctness Criterion -- 2.4 Against the Fundamentality Criterion -- 2.5 Against the Categorial Criterion -- 2.6 Against the Temporal Criterion -- 2.7 Against the Intervention Criterion
Contents 2.8 Against the Modal Criterion -- 2.9 A Mediation Demarcation Criterion -- 2.10 Implications for Simultaneous Causation -- 2.11 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- 3: Ontic Structuralism and Fundamentality -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Grounding, Ontological Dependence, etc. -- 3.3 Ontic Structural (Real)ism -- 3.4 Structuralist Ontologies for Contemporary Physical Theories -- 3.5 Structures, Objects, and Fundamentalia in Physics:An Assessment -- 3.6 Metaphysical Coherentism? -- 3.7 Conclusions -- 4: Fundamental and Derived Quantities -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Fundamental Properties and Laws
Contents 4.3 Systems of Units and the Distinction of Quantities into Base and Derived Quantities -- 4.4 Problems with Taking the Base Quantities to Be Fundamental Properties -- 4.5 Natural Units and Universal Constants -- 4.6 Conclusion -- 5: Privileged-Perspective Realism in the Quantum Multiverse -- 5.1 Metaphysics and Perspectival Facts -- 5.2 The Argument from Special Relativity against PPR about Tensed Facts -- 5.3 The Metaphysics of Quantum Mechanics -- 5.3.1 The Copenhagen Interpretation and PPR -- 5.3.2 The Everett Interpretation: Neutrality and the Multiverse
Summary Are space and time fundamental features of our world or might they emerge from something else? The Foundation of Reality brings together metaphysicians and philosophers of physics working on space, time, and fundamentality to address this timely question. Recent developments in the interpretation of quantum mechanics and the understanding of certain approaches to quantum gravity have led philosophers of physics to propose that space and time might be emergent rather than fundamental. But such discussions are often conducted without engagement with those working on fundamentality and related issues in contemporary metaphysics. This book aims to correct this oversight. The diverse contributions to this volume address topics including the nature of fundamentality, the relation of space and time to quantum entanglement, and space and time in theories of quantum gravity. Only through consideration of a range of different approaches to the topic can we hope to get clear on the status of space and time in our contemporary understanding of physical reality.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 255-268) and index.
Access restrictionAvailable only to authorized users.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web
Issued in other formebook version : 9780191869273
Genre/formElectronic books.
LCCN 2019952625
ISBN9780198831501 (hardback)
ISBN0198831501 (hardback)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Electronic Resources Access Content Online ✔ Available