학술논문
Being, becoming and the undivided universe: a dialogue between relational blockworld and the implicate order concerning the unification of relativity and quantum theory.
Document Type
Journal
Author
Silberstein, Michael (1-ETOWN-Q) AMS Author Profile; Stuckey, W. M. (1-ETOWN-P) AMS Author Profile; McDevitt, Timothy (1-ETOWN-M) AMS Author Profile
Source
Subject
81 Quantum theory -- 81V Applications to specific physical systems
81V22Unified theories
83Relativity and gravitational theory -- 83C General relativity
83C47Methods of quantum field theory
81V22
83
83C47
Language
English
ISSN
15729516
Abstract
Summary: ``In this paper two different approaches to unification willbe compared, Relational Blockworld (RBW) and Hiley's implicate order.Both approaches are monistic in that they attempt to derive matter andspacetime geometry `at once' in an interdependent and backgroundindependent fashion from something underneath both quantum theory andrelativity. Hiley's monism resides in the implicate order via Cliffordalgebras and is based on process as fundamental while RBW's monismresides in spacetimematter via path integrals over graphs wherebyspace, time and matter are co-constructed per a global constraintequation. RBW's monism therefore resides in being (relationalblockworld) while that of Hiley's resides in becoming (elementaryprocesses). Regarding the derivation of quantum theory and relativity,the promises and pitfalls of both approaches will be elaborated.Finally, special attention will be paid as to how Hiley's processaccount might avoid the blockworld implications of relativity and thefrozen time problem of canonical quantum gravity.''