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AGPhil: Arbeitsgruppe Philosophie der Physik

AGPhil 1: Quantum and Classical Gravity 1

AGPhil 1.3: Vortrag

Montag, 18. März 2024, 10:45–11:15, PTB SR AvHB

Functional unity in quantum gravity — Alex Seuthe¹ and •Luigi Laino² — ¹TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany — ²University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

The unification of General Relativity (GR) and Quantum Mechanics (QM) is a significant open question in physics. This issue, tackled by approaches such as Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG), challenges our conventional interpretation of space and time (and spacetime).

LQG is in tension with Kant’s philosophy of pure reason, where space and time are pure intuitions. We think that Cassirer’s neo-Kantian revision of Kant’s Aesthetics may be of service for framing questions arising here. Hence, our paper will:

1) Illustrate how later neo-Kantian interpretations of Kantian Aesthetics prevent a collapse of a revised Kantian philosophy in light of new developments in physics, particularly by leveraging the idea of “functionalism” (also upheld by Rovelli and relational QM).

2) Demonstrate how, through Cassirer’s advanced philosophy of symbolic forms, unity can be perceived as a functional concept. We will also utilise his books Zur Einsteinschen Relativitätstheorie (1921) on GR and Determinismus und Indeterminismus in der modernen Physik (1937) on QM, focusing on Cassirer’s systematic method and his approach to establishing functional unity as the focal point in the epistemology of physics.

In 2024, as we celebrate the 300th anniversary of Immanuel Kant and the 150th of Ernst Cassirer, it is an opportune moment to critically revisit their philosophical insights.

Keywords: Transcendental Philosophy; Philosophy of Symbolic Forms; Quantum Gravity; Ernst Cassirer; Functional Unity