The Substantial Role of Weyl Symmetry in Deriving General Relativity from String Theory

Dougherty, John (2021): The Substantial Role of Weyl Symmetry in Deriving General Relativity from String Theory. In: Philosophy of Science, Vol. 88, No. 5: pp. 1149-1160

Abstract

String theory reduces to general relativity in appropriate regimes. Huggett and Vistarini have given an account of this reduction that includes a deflationary thesis about symmetry: although the usual derivation of general relativity from string theory appeals to a premise about the theory’s symmetry, Huggett and Vistarini argue that this premise plays no logical role. In this article I disagree with their deflationary thesis and argue that their analysis is based on a popular but flawed conception of the interaction between symmetry and quantization. I argue that a better conception recognizes a distinction between ordinary, broken, and anomalous symmetries.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Science > Chair of Philosophy of Science
• Subjects: 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 100 Philosophy
• ISSN: 0031-8248
• Language: English