Does Spacetime Emerge?

Jessica M. Wilson (University of Toronto at Scarborough, University of Toronto, St. George Campus)

Abstract: Inspired by certain scientific theories, including but not limited to quantum gravity, it has been recently suggested that spacetime 'emerges', in such a way that spacetime completely metaphysically depends on, yet is distinct from, more fundamental nonspatiotemporal ontology. Here I argue that considerations offered in support of spacetime's being emergent in this sense are so far inconclusive.