Time and Timelessness in Fundamental Physics and Cosmology

This book offers a clear account of timelessness together with the discussion of temporality in fundamental physics and cosmology. The multi-disciplinary approach to the problem of time and timelessness shows the remarkable difference between pre-relativistic debates and current developments. This book thoroughly discusses notions of timelessness and time emerging in the most recent literature on Quantum Gravity, String Theory and Cosmology. The contributions explore, among many aspects, the historical-philosophical roots of the notions of temporality and atemporality, the role of mathematics in defining time and temporality with respect to both order relations and causality, approaches to quantum gravity and cosmology that make use of quantum fluids and condensate to approximate space-time in general relativity, time and timelessness in black holes and the problem of cosmological time in bouncing cosmologies.

The novelty of this volume lies in the interaction among scientists, philosophers, and historians in exploring the nature of time and timelessness and the origin of these concepts. The book represents a valuable toolkit for researchers and graduate students in physics, cosmology, philosophy and the history of those fields.

Auteur

Silvia De Bianchi is Associate Professor at the University of Milan and PI of the ERC project PROTEUS-"Paradoxes and Metaphors of Time in Early Universe(s)" (2018-2024) and of the project COSMOS. Her research interests cover the history and philosophy of modern cosmology, history and philosophy of modern physics and history of philosophy, with emphasis on Kant's work on natural science. She also works on the conceptual foundations of quantum gravity approaches, including Group Field Theory and Loop Quantum Gravity. With Claus Kiefer, she edited "Hundred Years of Gauge Theory" (Springer 2020), and edited two special issues for Studies in History and Philosophy of Science and one for HOPOS, devoted to the philosophical and mathematical underpinning of cosmology (18th-20th century).

Marco Forgione is Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Milan within the COSMOS project and before within the ERC Project PROTEUS: "Paradoxes and Metaphors of Time in Early Universe(s)". He works on instances of space-time emergence in the context of different approaches to quantum gravity. Previously, he extensively worked on the history and philosophy of quantum electrodynamics and Feynman's theorizing. His research interests focus on history and philosophy of science and philosophy of physics.

Laura Marongiu is Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Milan within the COSMOS project and before within the ERC Project PROTEUS: "Paradoxes and Metaphors of Time in Early Universe(s)". Her research interests focus on the history of philosophy and the history of mathematics and cosmology, with special emphasis on the Platonic tradition. Her previous research focused on the role of mathematics in Plato's work; she is currently working on the reception of Plato's Timaeus and on the history of mathematics and cosmology in Late Antiquity.