Space Time And Beyond

A collection of essays discussing the philosophy and foundations of quantum gravity. Written by leading philosophers and physicists in the field, chapters cover the important conceptual questions in the search for a quantum theory of gravity, and the current state of understanding among philosophers and physicists.

So far as we know this is the first book to present the rock bottom connection between science and religion. And the interesting thing about it is that it is done from the basis of Einstein's equations of physics and geometry. For thousands of years we have been faced with the problem of understanding the relation between our physics and what underlies it. So far as we know this is the first time the solution has been in print. And it is simple and readable. We don't have two worlds one for the scientists and one for the mystics. There's only one of it. And if the mystics are right in their descriptions, and if the scientists are right in theirs, we need only a translator and a dictionary of both languages. Fortunately for us, John Dobson has lived and worked in both camps, and knows both languages, so he undertook the task of translating. But to succeed in joining the descriptions by the physicists and the mystics he had to start far below the scientist's descriptions and he got there through Einstein's 1905 equations, his physics and his geometry.

A spacetime appetizer -- Relatively speaking -- Einstein on trial -- Wave talk and bar fights -- The lives of stars -- Clockwork precision -- Laser quest -- The path to perfection -- Creation stories -- Cold case -- Gotcha -- Black magic -- Nanoscience -- Follow-up questions -- Space invaders -- Surf's up for Einstein wave astronomy

This book answers the intriguing questions on space, time and Universe. Such as- Question 1: It’s been proved that Universe is expanding, so does that mean that atoms, cells, people, stars and everything in this universe is getting bigger and bigger? Question 2: Will Wormhole travel ever be possible? Question 3: What is parallel Universes and the many-worlds theory? Question 4: Is it true to say that universe is expanding faster than speed of light? Question 5: How old are the atoms in my body? Did they travelled from distant galaxies or from different planet? Question 6: Can artificial black hole be created in laboratory conditions? If so, how small the black hole could be made? Question 7: What is empty space in Universe is really like? Question 8: How Earth would have been, if it didn’t turn? Question 9: Are there any new states of matter in universe at ultrahigh temperatures and densities?

Quantum gravity seeks a unified theory in which quantum matter is dynamically related to generally relativistic spacetime. Although a continuing work in progress, research programmes in the field such as string theory, loop quantum gravity, and causal set theory make it clear that a successful theory of quantum gravity will raise important challenges to our conceptions of space, time, and matter-perhaps abolishing them altogether as fundamental entities. But just as important, there is good reason to think that some of the problems in finding a theory of quantum gravity are themselves conceptual, in need of philosophical analysis. Philosophy Beyond Spacetime: Implications from Quantum Gravity assembles original papers from philosophers (and one physicist), establishing a definitive statement of the current state of play, on which future research into this area can build. Aiming to expand knowledge and understanding of the philosophy of quantum gravity, it emphasizes how debates in metaphysics--regarding emergence, composition, or grounding for example--shed light on the conceptual questions of quantum gravity. And conversely, how quantum theories of space and time call into question philosophical views grounded in classical spacetime. Furthermore, the philosophy of quantum gravity raises methodological questions, for instance concerning the relation between physics and metaphysics. The essays have been chosen to demonstrate to a wide range of philosophers the significance of the subject, as well as making novel contributions to it.