Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale
Contemporary Theories in Quantum Gravity

Was the first book to examine the exciting area of overlap between philosophy and quantum mechanics with chapters by leading experts from around the world.

Craig Callender (Edited by), Nick Huggett (Edited by)

9780521664455, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 29 January 2001

376 pages, 20 b/w illus. 2 tables
24.4 x 17 x 2 cm, 0.808 kg

'… there is no better resource available to philosophers interested in quantum gravity than Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale … This volume is mandatory reading for anyone interested in how quantum theory and gravity collide.' Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

The greatest challenge in fundamental physics is how quantum mechanics and general relativity can be reconciled in a theory of 'quantum gravity'. The project suggests a profound revision of our notions of space, time and matter, and so has become a key topic of debate and collaboration between physicists and philosophers. This volume collects classic and original contributions from leading experts in both fields for a provocative discussion of all the issues. This volume contains accessible introductions to the main and less well known approaches to quantum gravity. It includes exciting topics such as the fate of spacetime in various theories, the so-called 'problem of time' in canonical quantum gravity, black hole thermodynamics, and the relationship between the interpretation of quantum theory and quantum gravity. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the profound implications of trying to marry the two most important theories in physics.

Preface
1. Introduction Craig Callendar and Nick Huggett
Part I. Theories of Quantum Gravity and their Philosophical Dimensions: 2. Spacetime and the philosophical challenge of quantum gravity Jeremy Butterfield and Christopher Isham
3. Naive quantum gravity Steven Weinstein
4. Quantum spacetime: what do we know? Carlo Rovelli
Part II. Strings: 5. Reflections on the fate of spacetime Edward Witten
6. A philosopher looks at string theory Robert Weingard
7. Black holes, dumb holes, and entropy William G. Unruh
Part III. Topological Quantum Field Theory: 8. Higher-dimensional algebra and Planck scale physics John C. Baez
Part IV. Quantum Gravity and the Interpretation of General Relativity: 9. On general covariance and best matching Julian B. Barbour
10. Pre-Socratic quantum gravity Gordon Belot and John Earman
11. The origin of the spacetime metric: Bell's 'Lorentzian Pedagogy' and its significance in general relativity Harvey R. Brown and Oliver Pooley
Part IV. Quantum Gravity and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: 12. Quantum spacetime without observers: ontological clarity and the conceptual foundations of quantum gravity Sheldon Goldstein and Stefan Teufel
13. On gravity's role in quantum state reduction Roger Penrose
14. Why the quantum must yield to gravity Joy Christian.

Subject Areas: Relativity physics [PHR], Quantum physics [quantum mechanics & quantum field theory PHQ], Physics [PH], Philosophy of science [PDA]