The quantum gravity seeds for laws of nature

Eur J Philos Sci. 2024;14(4):63. doi: 10.1007/s13194-024-00626-0. Epub 2024 Dec 4.

Abstract

We discuss the challenges that the standard (Humean and non-Humean) accounts of laws face within the framework of quantum gravity where space and time may not be fundamental. This paper identifies core (meta)physical features that cut across a number of quantum gravity approaches and formalisms and that provide seeds for articulating updated conceptions that could account for QG laws not involving any spatio-temporal notions. To this aim, we will in particular highlight the constitutive roles of quantum entanglement, quantum transition amplitudes and quantum causal histories. These features also stress the fruitful overlap between quantum gravity and quantum information theory.

Keywords: Laws of nature; Quantum causal histories; Quantum entanglement; Quantum gravity; Spacetime; Transition amplitude.