Lee SmolinPerimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
PIRSA:05030089
I explain what physicists mean when they say that space and time may be
relational and discuss the extent to which different of the contemporary
attempts at quantum gravity satisfy this criteria. I then discuss how
the current debates between advocates of background dependent and
background independent theories may be seen in the light of the
historical debate in philosophy between advocates of absolute and
relational notions of space and time.