Lucas Timmerman
Radboud
In this talk, I revisit the application of Earman’s principles within the debate on the arrow of time. Earman’s principles state that (SP1) any dynamical symmetry is a spacetime symmetry, and that (SP2) any spacetime symmetry is a dynamical symmetry. Roberts and Salimkhani argue that we can employ these principles to deduce the arrow of time from CP-violation. Yet, both are in need for additional arguments to infer spacetime asymmetries from dynamical asymmetries. Let’s call this the deduction problem. I reconstruct their additional arguments and argue that they are necessary for their argumentation. However, I show that Roberts additional argument is not sufficiently justified: Roberts argues that the dynamical system is complete enough for making this inference. I show that his argument is insufficient since it does not explain that the dynamical system is more complete than spacetime. However, Salimkhani suggests that the dynamical symmetry is more fundamental than the spacetime asymmetry. I argue that this kind of ontological dependence provides a possible solution to the deduction problem.
Chair: Celine Lechaux
Time: 04 September, 10:40 – 11:10
Location: SR 1.005
SOPhiA 2026 