Trans-Planckian Philosophy of Cosmology

TL;DR

This paper explores the philosophical foundations of the trans-Planckian censorship conjecture, arguing that early universe structure formation is independent of quantum gravity, and suggests this independence can serve as an empirical constraint in quantum gravity research.

Contribution

It provides philosophical grounding for the trans-Planckian censorship conjecture and argues for the autonomy of early universe structure formation from quantum gravity effects.

Findings

Structure formation is autonomous from quantum gravity.

Trans-Planckian censorship can serve as an empirical constraint.

Philosophical basis for the conjecture is established.

Abstract

I provide some philosophical groundwork for the recently proposed 'trans-Planckian censorship' conjecture in theoretical physics. In particular, I argue that structure formation in early universe cosmology is, at least as we typically understand it, autonomous with regards to quantum gravity, the high energy physics that governs the Planck regime in our universe. Trans-Planckian censorship is then seen as a means of rendering this autonomy an empirical constraint within ongoing quantum gravity research.