Aguirre A., Foster B., Merali Z. (Eds.). What is Fundamental? Springer,2019. — 189 p.. 2019

Published in cooperation with the renowned physics "think-tank" Foundational Questions Institute, FQXi Are there truly fundamental entities in nature? Or are the things that we regard as fundamental in our theories – for example space, time or the masses of elementary particles – merely awaiting a derivation from a new, yet to be discovered theory based on elements that are more fundamental? This was the central question posed in the 2018 FQXi essay competition, which drew more than 200 entries from professional physicists, philosophers, and other scholars. This volume presents enhanced versions of the fifteen award-winning essays, giving a spectrum of views and insights on this fascinating topic. From a prescription for “when to stop digging” to the case for strong emergence, the reader will find here a plethora of stimulating and challenging ideas - presented in a largely non-technical manner - on which to sharpen their understanding of the language of physics and even the nature of reality.

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Preface

Contents

Introduction

Fundamental?

Against Fundamentalism

Matthew Leifer

Abstract

What Is Fundamental?

Dispatches from the Science Wars

A Theory of Knowledge

Conclusion

Responses to Online Discussion

References

The Politics of Fundamentality

Of Lego and Layers (and Fundamentalism)

Dean Rickles

Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em, And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum. And the great fleas themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go on, While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on. Augustus de Morgan, 1872

[T]he study of a more precise definition of “fundamentality” leads to very interesting physical questions, and interesting physical insights. Max Dresden, 1974

‘Fundamental’ is a prime example of what philosopher John Post (presumably following legal jargon) called an “accordion word”: highly flexible and capable of expanding or contracting depending on context.

Of Turtles and Tortoises

Of Mereology and Math

Of Bootstraps and Bohm

References

Fundamentality Here, Fundamentality There, Fundamentality Everywhere

Marc Seguin

The question “What is fundamental?” elicits widely divergent responses, even among physicists.

Science Is a Tower of Theories and the Standard Model Is Its Foundation!

Fundamental Disagreements

I Think Therefore I Am Fundamental?

Let’s Get Metaphysical