www.lmu.de/problemoftime2015
Whilst there is broad agreement that the canonical quantization of general relativity leads to an acute problem relating to time, there is not uniform consensus regarding either the nature of this `problem of time in quantum gravity’, or the requirements for a satisfactory solution. Questions remain, for example, with regard to interpretation of the timeless Wheeler-de Witt formalism, the canonical representation of the spacetime diffeomorphism group, the formal and empirical status of observables and the relevance of the problem of time to other approaches to gravity.
The aim of this workshop is to bring together experts on the problem of time for discussion of both formal and philosophical issues. Participants will include both physicists working at the forefront of quantum gravity research, and specialists in the historical and philosophical foundations of the subject.
The workshop will be held in Munich over the 3rd and 4th July and so will immediately proceed the Loops15 conference scheduled to be held in nearby Erlangen the following week.
Interested physicists, philosophers or historians (and graduate students) are all very welcome to participate in the workshop. We also welcome applications to give a short comment on one of the invited talks. All submissions, enquires and registration for participation should be addressed to [email protected].
INVITED SPEAKERS: Bianca Dittrich (Perimeter Institute), Steve Giddings (Santa Barbara), Sean Gryb (Radbound), Philipp Hoehn (Perimeter Institute), Tim Koslowski (New Brunswick), Brian Pitts (Cambridge), Oliver Pooley (Oxford), Carlo Rovelli (Aix-Marseille), Donald Salisbury (Austin College), Lee Smolin (Perimeter Institute)
ORGANISERS: Alex Blum (Max Planck Institute for the History of Science), Dean Rickles (Sydney), Karim Thebault (LMU Munich)
The conference is organised by the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (LMU Munich) in collaboration with the Centre for Time (University of Sydney) and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. We are very grateful to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science for financial support.
