Space, Time, and Adynamical Explanation in the Relational Blockworld

Abstract

Relational Blockworld (RBW) is an interpretation of quantum mechanics based on the path integral approach to physics. In the path integral approach, quantum mechanics is couched in spacetime rather than 3N-dimensional configuration space, since the path integral computation of a probability amplitude is based on a particular outcome in spacetime. That is, instead of using Schrӧdinger’s equation to time-evolve the wave function in the 3N-dimensional configuration space of all possible outcomes, one uses the Feynman path integral to compute the probability amplitude for a specific outcome in spactime. In such a spatiotemporal or least action approach, time-evolved dynamical explanation is replaced with a spatiotemporally global constraint, e.g., Fermat’s principle says that a light ray takes the path of least time from source to sink. The mysteries of quantum nonlocality are resolved by simply assuming this adynamical explanation in the blockworld is fundamental to dynamical explanation in the mechanical universe. Herein we introduce RBW’s form of adynamical explanation based on spatiotemporal ontological contextuality.