Supporting Abstract Relational Space-Time as Fundamental without Doctrinism against Emergence

Abstract

Modern physics, via the standard model with Higgs mechanism and string theory for example, has supplied ether-like models and emergent general relativity scenarios that substantially weaken the usual defense of orthodox relativity and abstract, relational space-time in general. Over a dozen arguments in support of relativism against space-substances are discussed. It is not known whether perceived space-time is fundamental or due to a condensed state or string theoretical membrane. Emergent relativity indicates perhaps a whole tower of more fundamental space-times. Whether space is best described as a thing, an emergent phenomenon, or instead Kant's necessary, a priori pre-condition of the possibility of all phenomena, depends on which space-time is under consideration. Nevertheless, space-time is fundamentally abstract relational. This is supported by throughout acknowledging as well as illustrating the value of space-substance models, yet still keeping firm in refusing them on the deepest level. The gist is that even while refusing, physics and philosophy gain more from ether concepts than from plainly refusing them.

32 pages

References in corpus (8)

• On the Origin of Gravity and the Laws of Newton
• Testing Einstein's special relativity with Fermi's short hard gamma-ray burst GRB090510
• Testing spooky action at a distance
• Solar system constraints on multi-field theories of modified dynamics
• The Vacuum Fluctuation Theorem: Exact Schroedinger Equation via Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics
• Generalized Einstein-Aether theories and the Solar System
• A Briefing on the Ekpyrotic/Cyclic Universe
• A diatribe on expanding space

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Against Absolute Actualization: Three "Non-Localities" and Failure of Model-External Randomness made easy with Many-Worlds Models including Stronger Bell-Violation and Correct QM Probability