Quantum Field Theory and the Limits of Reductionism
Fuente:
arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2024
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| _version_ | 1866911971498000384 |
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| author | Adlam, Emily |
| author_facet | Adlam, Emily |
| contents | I suggest that the current situation in quantum field theory (QFT) provides some reason to question the universal validity of ontological reductionism. I argue that the renormalization group flow is reversible except at fixed points, which makes the relation between large and small distance scales quite symmetric in QFT, opening up at least the technical possibility of a non-reductionist approach to QFT. I suggest that some conceptual problems encountered within QFT may potentially be mitigated by moving to an alternative picture in which it is no longer the case that the large supervenes on the small. Finally, I explore some specific models in which a form of non-reductionism might be implemented, and consider the prospects for future development of these models. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_20457 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Quantum Field Theory and the Limits of Reductionism Adlam, Emily History and Philosophy of Physics High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Quantum Physics I suggest that the current situation in quantum field theory (QFT) provides some reason to question the universal validity of ontological reductionism. I argue that the renormalization group flow is reversible except at fixed points, which makes the relation between large and small distance scales quite symmetric in QFT, opening up at least the technical possibility of a non-reductionist approach to QFT. I suggest that some conceptual problems encountered within QFT may potentially be mitigated by moving to an alternative picture in which it is no longer the case that the large supervenes on the small. Finally, I explore some specific models in which a form of non-reductionism might be implemented, and consider the prospects for future development of these models. |
| title | Quantum Field Theory and the Limits of Reductionism |
| topic | History and Philosophy of Physics High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.20457 |