Lucy James -Primordial Black Holes in Perspective

Lucy James

The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our Lunch Time Talk. Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning or visit our live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.

LTT:  Lucy James

Tuesday, October 29 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT

Title: Primordial Black Holes in Perspective

Abstract:

This talk gives an illustration of some general ideas about perspectival disagreement, using the case of primordial black holes (PBHs). Some theoretical arguments for their existence are considered, alongside a cursory review of some literature discussing the possibility of acquiring empirical data that would distinguish primordial from astrophysical black holes. Finally, and most substantially, a putative explanatory role of PBHs is discussed in the context of matter formation and spacetime ’emergence’. Differences between the ways in which PBHs are understood from alternative perspectives are pointed out: PBHs have (some) different properties depending on whether they are being studied by the mathematical general relativist, the experimentally inclined astrophysicist, or the speculative cosmologist. Such perspectival disagreement need not be indicative of ontological pluralism. It is argued instead that instances of perspectival disagreement point to physics being an incomplete enterprise, whose evolution is unavoidably constrained by epistemic limitations. Unificatory projects are considered progressive, since such projects provide the most likely sources of metaphysical insight when they are successful. Adding precision to our understanding of the salient characteristics of the perspectives in question, when perspectival disagreement occurs, can pave the way for more successful unification projects.

This talk will also be available live streamed on:

Zoom:  https://pitt.zoom.us/s/99322492076

YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.