String Theory

Abstract

A consistent theory of quantum gravity is the main desideratum of contemporary fundamental physics. Observed phenomena in high-energy physics at this point can be very well accounted for by the standard model of particle physics. String theory starts from the perspective of particle physics and aims to generalize it to include gravity. This chapter provides a brief survey of some of the most important novel characteristics of string theory that deserve serious philosophical attention. The issue of duality leads up to another important philosophical discussion: the emergence of space-time in a string-theoretical context. A number of philosophical papers have tried to square claims of emergence made by string theorists with the philosophical use of the concept of emergence. Black hole information is one of the most intensely investigated issues in string theory today. One very important strand of philosophical analysis related to the string theory landscape is concerned with the multiverse and anthropic reasoning.