Re: Is the universe a set? Probably not.

From: Marchal <marchal.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Wed Oct 25 07:21:31 2000

>Right, the real point is that our current theoretical models do not
>extend to the Planck length. We don't have a theory of quantum gravity.
>Under those circumstances, we can only speculate whether an eventual
>theory will be based on some type of continuum, on discrete logic,
>or something else.
>
>The common popular descriptions I have seen of Planck scale spacetime
>is of a churning foam, with Planck length wormholes constantly popping
>into and out of existence, with the local topology very poorly defined.
>Maybe some kind of fractal dimensionality.

Below the planck scale we only can use string theory, today.
The math are rather strange there (quantum geometry, algebraic geometry).
It is not clear if that can help for the continuum/discrete question.
The book by Brian Green (The elegant universe) is an enthusiast
lay introduction.

Bruno
Received on Wed Oct 25 2000 - 07:21:31 PDT