| Grant number: | 18/00275-3 |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| Start date: | January 01, 2019 |
| End date: | May 31, 2023 |
| Field of knowledge: | Humanities - Philosophy |
| Principal Investigator: | Osvaldo Frota Pessoa Junior |
| Grantee: | Diana Taschetto |
| Host Institution: | Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 20/02969-2 - Quantum observables, BE.EP.DR |
Abstract The aim of this project is to investigate one of the most fundamental and necessary concepts required for us to have empirical understanding of the world: the observable. It is the current conceptual picture of fundamental physics that gives to this philosophical exploration context and motivation-the fact that a true quantum gravity theory has remained elusive, that is to say. There do exist philosophical obstacles in linking the world pictures of quantum physics and general relativity in a univocal and coherent worldview of Nature in terms of a quantum gravity theory-reasons for so being springing from the antagonistic features the ingredient theories claim the putative furniture of the world to have. It is conceded to be a difficult philosophical task to find the common ground from which to determine the philosophical flavor of the physical principles over which the architecture of a quantum gravity theory is to be build. But since problem understanding precedes problem solving, to the eye of the methodologist it is clear that discrepancies can only be resolved after having the reasons that prompt them studied and understood. Applying this general reasoning to a specific case, follows that making the set of observables in general relativity and in quantum physics explicit and well-defined is prior to the task of hypothesizing about what sort of empirical content we must expect to flow from a quantum gravity theory. Even though the question, "what are the observables of general relativity? which criteria justify attributing them such a status?" has been put several times under the philosophical microscope shared by physicists and philosophers of physics, the quantum counterpart of the matter has been uninvestigated. It is the purpose of this project to correct such a neglect. Its scope is to submit the concept of observables in quantum physics and its relation with representation groups and locality principles to philosophical critique and analysis at the length and detail it deserves. Philosophical principles familiar to the empiricist tradition will be applied to the results of this investigation in an attempt to evaluate whether or not there to be excessive ontological structure in the theory. Positive case scenario considered, means to reduce it will be studied. The goal is to better understand what observables from general relativity best satisfy the quantum concept-and so may be most fit for quantum gravity theories. | |
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