The relational ontology of contemporary physics

TL;DR

This paper explores how modern physics, from classical mechanics to quantum gravity, emphasizes relational ontologies, suggesting that relations are fundamental to understanding the nature of physical reality.

Contribution

It highlights the pervasive role of relationality across various physical theories, proposing a unified ontological perspective in contemporary physics.

Findings

Relationality is central in classical mechanics and gauge theories.

Quantum theory supports an ontology of relations.

Relationality is evident in general relativity and quantum gravity theories.

Abstract

Quantum theory can be understood as pointing to an ontology of relations. I observe that this reading of quantum mechanics is supported by the ubiquity of relationality in contemporary fundamental physics, including in classical mechanics, gauge theories, general relativity, quantum field theory, and the tentative theories of quantum gravity.