Dean Rickles
University of Calgary

TITLE Whose Afraid of Background Independence


ABSTRACT

This talk deals with a cluster of problems that can be traced to the  
background independence of general relativity. In particular, the  
problem raised by Einstein's hole argument and the problem of the  
frozen formalism. Einstein's response to the former, that we should  
restrict the class of observables of the theory to 'space-time  
coincidences', appears to lead to the other, that these observables  
are constants of motion. I argue that this move is correct, but does  
not pose a genuine problem. Once we take background independence  
fully on board, and connect it to the observables, then although the  
two problems are ineluctable, they are shown to be equally inert, the  
result of clinging to background dependent ways.  However, in order  
to sustain a background independent interpretation of the  
observables, we need to incorporate a structuralist element into the  
interpretation of the observables.