圈量子引力的经验融贯

The Empirical Coherence of Loop Quantum

人们通常认为圈量子引力和其他形式的量子引力理论面临着经验的(不)融贯性问题,因为基本的时空概念在量子引力的世界里消失了。处理这个问题的标准方案是找到一种方法来解释时空涌现。本文认为,圈量子引力,以其协变或罗维利式的形式,不存在经验上的(不)融贯性问题,因为该理论在本体论承诺上主张了过程本体论而不是实体本体论。过程本体论在经验上是融贯的。经验上的(不)融贯性问题和时空涌现的主张应该是两个不同的命题,即便它们关系密切。

It is often believed that loop quantum gravity and other forms of quantum gravitational theories face a problem of empirical(in) coherence because of the disappearance of fundamental spacetime at the quantum gravitational level. The standard solution to this problem is to find a way to account for spacetime emergence. This article argues that loop quantum gravity, in its covariant or Rovellian form, does not have a problem of empirical(in) coherence because the theory purports a process ontology rather than a substance ontology. Process ontology is an empirically coherent concept. The problem of empirical(in) coherence and the spacetime emergence claim are separated theses, even though they are closely related.