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34A novel approach to quantization is shown to allow for superpositions of the cosmological constant in isotropic and homogeneous mini-superspace models. Generic solutions featuring such superpositions display: i) a unitary evolution equation; ii) singularity resolution; iii) a cosmic bounce. Explicit cosmological solutions are constructed. These exhibit characteristic bounce features including a ‘super-inflation’ regime with universal phenomenology that can naturally be made to be insensitive to …Read more
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28What science can do for democracy – A complexity science approachHumanities and Social Sciences Communications 7. 2020.Political scientists have conventionally assumed that achieving democracy is a one-way ratchet. Only very recently has the question of ‘democratic backsliding’ attracted any research attention. We argue that democratic instability is best understood with tools from complexity science. The explanatory power of complexity science arises from several features of complex systems. Their relevance in the context of democracy is discussed. Several policy recommen- dations are offered to help stabilize …Read more
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26A companion paper provides a proposal for cosmic singularity resolution based upon general features of a bouncing unitary cosmological model in the mini-superspace approximation. This paper analyses novel phenomenology that can be identified within particular solutions of that model. First, we justify our choice of particular solutions based upon a clearly articulated and observationally-motivated principle. Second, we demonstrate that the chosen solutions follow a classical mini-superspace cosm…Read more
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22We offer a new proposal for cosmic singularity resolution based upon a quantum cosmology with a unitary bounce. This proposal is illustrated via a novel quantization of a mini-superspace model in which there can be superpositions of the cosmological constant. This possibility leads to a finite, bouncing unitary cosmology. Whereas the usual Wheeler–DeWitt cosmology generically displays pathological behaviour in terms of non-finite expectation values and non-unitary dynamics, the finiteness and un…Read more
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16Flipping arrowsMetascience 1-4. forthcoming.Review of Bryan W. Roberts: Reversing the Arrow of Time, Cambridge University Press, 2022.
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12On the Universality of Hawking RadiationBritish Journal for the Philosophy of Science 72 (3): 809-837. 2021.A physically consistent semi-classical treatment of black holes requires universality arguments to deal with the ‘trans-Planckian’ problem where quantum spacetime effects appear to be amplified such that they undermine the entire semi-classical modelling framework. We evaluate three families of such arguments in comparison with Wilsonian renormalization group universality arguments found in the context of condensed matter physics. Our analysis is framed by the crucial distinction between robustn…Read more
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12What science can do for democracy: a complexity science approachHumanities and Social Sciences Communications 7. 2020.Political scientists have conventionally assumed that achieving democracy is a one-way ratchet. Only very recently has the question of “democratic backsliding” attracted any research attention. We argue that democratic instability is best understood with tools from complexity science. The explanatory power of complexity science arises from several features of complex systems. Their relevance in the context of democracy is discussed. Several policy recommendations are offered to help stabilize cu…Read more
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12A companion paper provides a proposal for cosmic singularity resolution based upon general features of a bouncing unitary cosmological model in the mini-superspace approximation. This paper analyses novel phenomenology that can be identified within particular solutions of that model. First, we justify our choice of particular solutions based upon a clearly articulated and observationally motivated principle. Second, we demonstrate that the chosen solutions follow a classical mini- superspace cos…Read more
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10Physical Theory: Method and InterpretationInternational Studies in the Philosophy of Science 29 (4): 438-441. 2015.
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3Epistemology of Fundamental Physics: Why Trust a Theory? (edited book)Cambridge University Press. 2019.
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On the Empirical Consequences of the AdS/CFT DualityIn Nick Huggett, Keizo Matsubara & Christian Wüthrich (eds.), Beyond Spacetime: The Foundations of Quantum Gravity, Cambridge University Press.. pp. 284-303. 2020.
Areas of Specialization
Philosophy of Physical Science |
General Philosophy of Science |
Physics |
Areas of Interest
Philosophy of Physical Science |
Physics |
General Philosophy of Science |