Conceptual and Foundational Issues in the Quantization of Gravity

Dissertation, Northwestern University (1998)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The quantization of gravity represents an important attempt at reconciling the two seemingly incompatible frameworks that lie at the base of modern physics, quantum theory and general relativity. The dissertation begins by looking at the incompatibilities between the two frameworks. The incompatibility with quantum theory, it is argued, is rooted in the profound differences between general relativity and ordinary field theories. The dissertation goes on to look at how, in practice, these incongruities are treated in the canonical quantization program, and argues that their treatment is such that it is unlikely to lead to a satisfactory physical theory. The dissertation concludes by arguing that quantum theory only makes sense when embedded in a classical theory. Thus the reconciliation of quantum theory and general relativity suggests that we look outside the bounds of ordinary quantum theory for the proper theoretical framework

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,616

External links

  • This entry has no external links. Add one.
Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Prerequisites for a consistent framework of quantum gravity.Y. T. - 2001 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 32 (2):181-204.
Quantum concepts in space and time.Roger Penrose & C. J. Isham (eds.) - 1986 - New York ;: Oxford University Press.
Quantum Gravity.Carlo Rovelli - 2007 - Cambridge University Press.
Pre-socratic quantum gravity.Gordon Belot & John Earman - 2001 - In Craig Callender & Nick Huggett (eds.), Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale. Cambridge University Press. pp. 213--55.
The Philosophy behind Quantum Gravity.Henrik Zinkernagel - 2006 - Theoria: Revista de Teoría, Historia y Fundamentos de la Ciencia 21 (3):295-312.
Symmetry and Evolution in Quantum Gravity.Sean Gryb & Karim Thébaault - 2014 - Foundations of Physics 44 (3):305-348.
The Role of Time in Relational Quantum Theories.Sean Gryb & Karim Thébault - 2012 - Foundations of Physics 42 (9):1210-1238.
Quantum spacetime: What do we know?Carlo Rovelli - 2001 - In Craig Callender & Nick Huggett (eds.), Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale. Cambridge University Press. pp. 101--22.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-02-04

Downloads
0

6 months
0

Historical graph of downloads

Sorry, there are not enough data points to plot this chart.
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Time and Structure in Canonical Gravity.Dean Rickles - 2004 - In Dean Rickles, Steven French & Juha T. Saatsi (eds.), The Structural Foundations of Quantum Gravity. Clarendon Press.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references