Philosophy Beyond Spacetime: Implications from Quantum Gravity

Quantum gravity seeks a unified theory in which quantum matter is dynamically related to generally relativistic spacetime. Although a continuing work in progress, research programmes in the field such as string theory, loop quantum gravity, and causal set theory make it clear that a successful theory of quantum gravity will raise important challenges to our conceptions of space, time, and matter-perhaps abolishing them altogether as fundamental entities. But just as important, there is good reason to think that some of the problems in finding a theory of quantum gravity are themselves conceptual, in need of philosophical analysis.

Philosophy Beyond Spacetime: Implications from Quantum Gravity assembles original papers from philosophers (and one physicist), establishing a definitive statement of the current state of play, on which future research into this area can build. Aiming to expand knowledge and understanding of the philosophy of quantum gravity, it emphasizes how debates in metaphysics--regarding emergence, composition, or grounding for example--shed light on the conceptual questions of quantum gravity. And conversely, how quantum theories of space and time call into question philosophical views grounded in classical spacetime. Furthermore, the philosophy of quantum gravity raises methodological questions, for instance concerning the relation between physics and metaphysics. The essays have been chosen to demonstrate to a wide range of philosophers the significance of the subject, as well as making novel contributions to it.

Christian Wüthrich, Associate Professor, University of Geneva,Baptiste Le Bihan, Ambizione Researcher, University of Geneva,Nick Huggett, LAS Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of Illinois at Chicago

Christian Wüthrich studied physics, philosophy, and history and philosophy of science at Bern and Cambridge. He received his PhD in history and philosophy of science from Pittsburgh. After tenure-track and tenured positions at the University of California, San Diego, he has been at Geneva since 2015. He works in philosophy of physics and metaphysics, with a focus on the philosophy of quantum gravity. Since 2010 he has co-directed the Beyond Spacetime project with Nick Huggett, with support from NSF, ACLS, FQXi, and the John Templeton Foundation.


After a Ph.D. on the metaphysics of time at the University of Rennes completed in 2015, Baptiste Le Bihan has been a postdoctoral researcher in the project 'Space and Time after Quantum Gravity' (University of Illinois at Chicago and University of Geneva) (2016-2018) and a research associate in the project 'To and Fro: Scientific Metaphysics at Physics's Frontiers' in Geneva (2018-2019). He works primarily on the philosophy of space, time, and quantum gravity with a focus on ontological debates. Since 2019, he has been working as the principal investigator of a Swiss NSF Ambizione Fellowship.


Nick Huggett studied Physics and Philosophy at Oxford, then completed his PhD in Philosophy at Rutgers in 1995. He has worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago since 1996. His work principally deals with philosophical issues arising in quantum field theory, spacetime physics, and their intersection, in recent years focussing on quantum gravity, and especially string theory. Since 2010 he has co-directed the Beyond Spacetime project with Christian Wüthrich, with support from NSF, ACLS, FQXi, and the John Templeton Foundation.