Johan Gamper. (2024). On a Loophole in Quantum Gravity. Qeios. doi:10.32388/RM0TK5.4.
Abstract
I show that general relativity and quantum mechanics, broadly construed, are consistent in relation to the singularities inside of black holes, if the singularities inside of black holes are interfaces.
1. Introduction
Say that if the singularities inside of black holes have no extension in space-time they cannot be accounted for by quantum mechanics if quantum mechanics only is meaningful for events at least of the Planck length. Also, say that this would imply that general relativity is inconsistent with quantum mechanics. I will show that this inconsistency is dependent upon a premise that can be questioned.
2. Loophole causal closure
Loophole causal closure (Gamper, 2017) predicts that the physical universe is preceded by an earlier one (that can be mathematical). This is made possible by a redefinition of the principle of causal closure. The redefinition makes interfaces between universes consistent with the principle of causal closure, which is why it is ontologically meaningful to consider the possibility of a multiverse.
3. Loophole Quantum Gravity
The premise referred to in the Introduction is that the singularity inside of a black hole is situated in the physical universe. If there is only one universe and that universe is physical, of course, the singularity inside of a black hole is in the physical universe. If we consider, however, that there might be more than one universe and that loophole causal closure is true, we admit that there can be interfaces. According to this view, black hole singularities can be viewed as interfaces.
This scenario can be unpacked as follows. Let us define the black hole predicament as the situation where the singularity inside of the black hole is mathematical in its nature. Then we cannot explain how it has the non-mathematical, physical property of having mass. At the same time, it has mass, which is why it cannot be purely mathematical.
One solution is to view the black hole singularity as an interface between the physical universe and the mathematical universe. According to this view, the black hole singularity has a dual existence, it is both physical and mathematical.
4. Comment
I have written about this possibility elsewhere. See, for instance, (2023).
References
- Gamper, J. (2017). On a Loophole in Causal Closure. Philosophia 45: 631-636.
- Gamper, J. (2023). Mileva — a Dialogue About General Relativity as Regional. Qeios. doi:10.32388/6I9WNV.
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