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It is possible that both the classical description of spacetime and the rules of quantum field theory emerge from a more-fundamental structure of physical law. Pregeometric frameworks transfer some of the puzzles of quantum gravity to a semiclassical arena where those puzzles pose less of a challenge. However, in order to provide a satisfactory description of quantum gravity, a semiclassical description must emerge and contain in its description a macroscopic spacetime geometry, dynamical matter, and a gravitational interaction consistent with general relativity at long distances. In this essay, we argue that a framework that includes a stochastic origin for quantum field theory can provide both the emergence of classical spacetime and a quantized gravitational interaction.
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This content will become publicly available on May 20, 2026
Are General Relativity and Teleparallel Gravity Theoretically Equivalent?
Teleparallel gravity shares many qualitative features with general relativity, but differs from it in the following way: whereas in general relativity, gravitation is a manifestation of spacetime curvature, in teleparallel gravity, spacetime is (always) flat. Gravitational effects in this theory arise due to spacetime torsion. It is often claimed that teleparallel gravity is an equivalent reformulation of general relativity. In this paper we question that view. We argue that the theories are not equivalent, by the criterion of categorical equivalence or any stronger criterion, and that teleparallel gravity posits strictly more structure than general relativity.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2419967
- PAR ID:
- 10623999
- Publisher / Repository:
- LSE Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Philosophy of Physics
- Volume:
- 3
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2753-5908
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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