Kerry McKenzie: QFT and Fundamentality Metaphysics

Full Title: QFT and Fundamentality Metaphysics: Humeanism and Structuralism

Abstract: In this lecture we will briefly consider some reasons why metaphysics is thought to concern the fundamental in particular, and some reasons why metaphysicians should care about physics when theorizing about it. The Coleman-Gross theorem will then be presented, together with an intuitive justification for why it holds. We will then consider two arguments to the effect that this theorem has a transformative effect on metaphysics. The first is the claim that it presages a Humean-friendly form of necessitarianism. The second is the claim that it vindicates the thesis of ontic structural realism. We will then identify the criticisms that could be made to these arguments, on both ‘internal’ grounds and – looking forward to the afternoon session – on the grounds that QFT is not a truly fundamental framework for physics.