Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effective Spacetime

Understanding Emergence in Effective Field Theory and Quantum Gravity

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Authors:
  1. Karen Crowther

    1. Department of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh Department of Philosophy, PITTSBURGH, USA

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • A carefully reasoned and detailed presentation
  • Addresses the existential questions of theoretical physics
  • Of interest to both physicists and philosophers
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-ix
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction: Spacetime and Quantum Gravity

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 1-37

  3. Emergence and Reduction

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 39-58

  4. Effective Field Theory

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 59-100

  5. Universality, Higher Organising Principles and Emergence

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 101-127

  6. Spacetime as Described by EFT

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 129-145

  7. Discrete Approaches to Quantum Gravity

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 147-178

  8. Loop Quantum Gravity

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 179-201

  9. Conclusion: Now Here from Nowhere

    • Karen Crowther
    Pages 203-205
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

This book discusses the notion that quantum gravity may represent the "breakdown" of spacetime at extremely high energy scales. If spacetime does not exist at the fundamental level, then it has to be considered "emergent", in other words an effective structure, valid at low energy scales. The author develops a conception of emergence appropriate to effective theories in physics, and shows how it applies (or could apply) in various approaches to quantum gravity, including condensed matter approaches, discrete approaches, and loop quantum gravity.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh Department of Philosophy, PITTSBURGH, USA

    Karen Crowther

About the author

Karen Crowther works in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Geneva. She holds a PhD from the University of Sydney, a BSc. (Hons.), and a BA. (Hons.) from Monash University.

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation