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Being, Becoming and the Undivided Universe: A Dialogue Between Relational Blockworld and the Implicate Order Concerning the Unification of Relativity and Quantum Theory

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Abstract

In this paper two different approaches to unification will be compared, Relational Blockworld (RBW) and Hiley’s implicate order. Both approaches are monistic in that they attempt to derive matter and spacetime geometry ‘at once’ in an interdependent and background independent fashion from something underneath both quantum theory and relativity. Hiley’s monism resides in the implicate order via Clifford algebras and is based on process as fundamental while RBW’s monism resides in spacetimematter via path integrals over graphs whereby space, time and matter are co-constructed per a global constraint equation. RBW’s monism therefore resides in being (relational blockworld) while that of Hiley’s resides in becoming (elementary processes). 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 process account might avoid the blockworld implications of relativity and the frozen time problem of canonical quantum gravity.

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Notes

  1. Interestingly, in direct correspondence, Hiley noted that he and Bohm had considered Regge calculus, but found it emphasized the ‘structure’ too much and lost the notion of ‘process’. By turning to the notion of an ‘algebra’, Hiley found he could keep the structure aspect, but emphasize more the process.

  2. In a graphical representation of QFT, part of J represents field disturbances emanating from a source location (Source) and the other part represents field disturbances incident on a source location (sink).

  3. Hereafter, all reference to “experiments” will be to “quantum experiments.”

  4. In its Euclidean form, which is the form we will use, Z is a partition function.

  5. This assumes the number of degenerate eigenvalues always equals the dimensionality of the subspace spanned by their eigenvectors.

  6. Strictly speaking, the stress-energy tensor is associated with graphical links, not nodes. Our association of mass with nodes is merely conceptual.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, 17022, USA

    Michael Silberstein

  2. Department of Physics, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, 17022, USA

    W. M. Stuckey

  3. Department of Mathematical Sciences, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, 17022, USA

    Timothy McDevitt

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  1. Michael Silberstein
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  2. W. M. Stuckey
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  3. Timothy McDevitt
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Correspondence to W. M. Stuckey.

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Silberstein, M., Stuckey, W.M. & McDevitt, T. Being, Becoming and the Undivided Universe: A Dialogue Between Relational Blockworld and the Implicate Order Concerning the Unification of Relativity and Quantum Theory. Found Phys 43, 502–532 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-012-9653-9

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