PIRSA:05030089

Keynote Address: Relationalism in Physics and Cosmology

Smolin, L. (2005). Keynote Address: Relationalism in Physics and Cosmology. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/05030089

Smolin, Lee. Keynote Address: Relationalism in Physics and Cosmology. Perimeter Institute, Mar. 03, 2005, https://pirsa.org/05030089 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:05030089,
            doi = {},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/05030089},
            author = {Smolin, Lee},
            keywords = {},
            language = {en},
            title = {Keynote Address: Relationalism in Physics and Cosmology},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2005},
            month = {mar},
            note = {PIRSA:05030089 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Lee Smolin Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Talk numberPIRSA:05030089
Collection
Talk Type Other

Abstract

I explain what physicists mean when they say that space and time may be relational and discuss the extent to which different of the contemporary attempts at quantum gravity satisfy this criteria. I then discuss how the current debates between advocates of background dependent and background independent theories may be seen in the light of the historical debate in philosophy between advocates of absolute and relational notions of space and time.