The Structure of Causal Sets

Article Article scientifique Article The Structure of Causal Sets eng 2012 author Wuthrich Christian 0000-0001-8774-6160 662870 223-241 10.1007/s10838-012-9205-1 0925-4560 http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10838-012-9205-1 More often than not, recently popular structuralist interpretations of physical theories leave the central concept of a structure insufficiently precisified. The incipient causal sets approach to quantum gravity offers a paradigmatic case of a physical theory predestined to be interpreted in structuralist terms. It is shown how employing structuralism lends itself to a natural interpretation of the physical meaning of causal set theory. Conversely, the conceptually exceptionally clear case of causal sets is used as a foil to illustrate how a mathematically informed rigorous conceptualization of structure serves to identify structures in physical theories. Furthermore, a number of technical issues infesting structuralist interpretations of physical theories such as difficulties with grounding the identity of the places of highly symmetrical physical structures in their relational profile and what may resolve these difficulties can be vividly illustrated with causal sets. Causal set theory Quantum spacetime Structural realism Structure Dewey 100/501 89 Département de philosophie 3G false Journal for general philosophy of science 43 2 681d6a1e-f7e6-44c4-8937-5fa0b1883c08 Article (Published version) Restricted StructCausalSte.pdf 455839 application/pdf restrictedAccess Faculté des lettres / Département de philosophie

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The Structure of Causal Sets	Journal for general philosophy of science			2012	398	1

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Wuthrich, Christian

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