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AGPhil: Arbeitsgruppe Philosophie der Physik

AGPhil 7: Quantum Gravity 4

AGPhil 7.1: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 09:30–10:15, PTB SR AvHB

Consistency as a guide to quantum gravity — •Karen Crowther — University of Oslo, Norway

In the absence of novel empirical data, the search for a theory of quantum gravity is primarily motivated, guided, and constrained by theoretical and philosophical concerns. I argue that consistency is the most basic principle functioning in these roles. Consistency is seen as essential, and is widely taken as a constraint in physical theorising, yet scientists do not, and should not, reject inconsistent theories. There are different forms of consistency in science: empirical inconsistency, external inconsistency, and internal inconsistency. I explore how these play a role in motivating and constraining the search for quantum gravity, with an eye to pinpointing and evaluating the status of the different forms in each of these functions. I find that the ``inconsistencies'' usually appealed to, are not of the form expected, and may not in fact be inconsistencies at all, while some actual inconsistencies that could be relevant are dismissed as uninteresting. I also consider the heuristic value of inconsistency, and the relationship between consistency and unification in the search for quantum gravity.

Keywords: quantum gravity; spacetime; singularities; quantum field theory