String Theory, Loop Quantum Gravity and Eternalism

TL;DR

This paper explores how different quantum gravity theories, specifically string theory and loop quantum gravity, impact the philosophical view of eternalism and the nature of time.

Contribution

It demonstrates that string theory supports standard eternalism, while loop quantum gravity implies a atemporal version of eternalism, offering new perspectives on the ontology of time.

Findings

String theory entails standard eternalism.

Loop quantum gravity entails atemporal eternalism.

Implications for the philosophy of time are discussed.

Abstract

Eternalism, the view that what we regard locally as being located in the past, the present and the future equally exists, is the best ontological account of temporal existence in line with special and general relativity. However, special and general relativity are not fundamental theories and several research programs aim at finding a more fundamental theory of quantum gravity weaving together all we know from relativistic physics and quantum physics. Interestingly, some of these approaches assert that time is not fundamental. If time is not fundamental, what does it entail for eternalism and the standard debate over existence in time? First, I will argue that the non-fundamentality of time to be found in string theory entails standard eternalism. Second, I will argue that the non-fundamentality of time to be found in loop quantum gravity entails atemporal eternalism, namely a novel position in the spirit of standard eternalism.