String Theory for Metaphysicians

Abstract

String theory is a minefield for philosophers in terms of conceptual difficulty and mathematical technicality. Presentations aimed at philosophers generally focus on providing precise and technical mathematical descriptions of toy models and inter-theoretical toy derivations to give an idea of what is at play in the field. This presentation takes the opposite approach, filtering out most mathematical considerations to provide an overview of the field, eyes on the ontology. The aim is to provide a compass for metaphysicians to find their way around string theory and the philosophy of string theory. The development of metaphysical arguments based on string theory against the fundamentality of spacetime is deferred to the next chapter.

This is a draft chapter from a broader project on the metaphysics of quantum gravity. An earlier version was begun in 2021, circulated informally over the following years, and completed in its present form in 2023. A revised version will be incorporated into my forthcoming Cambridge Elements, Metaphysics of String Theory. Please cite the forthcoming Elements rather than this draft, once available