Quantum field theory and space-time -- formalism and reality (Q2724959)

This lecture contains deep reflections about the title problem: There are fields like electromagnetism mostly considered as matter on space-time, the gravitational field mostly considered as geometry of space-time, quantal wave functions describing nothing but probability. For quantum fields, moreover, the problem of statistics arises. The lecturer's conclusion is: ``What does all this teach us? In my view it teaches us the following. We should always push the mathematical formalism of physics, and is internal logic, to their ultimate conclusions. We should let the logic carry us along, at every level, subject to corrections from experimental physics. In the end we shall not have arrived at reality, but we shall have obtained the best grasp of reality that we can get.'' Different opinions are then represented in form of dialogues of the lecturer with Wightman, Coleman, and Weingard. This paper is of interest for everybody thinking about the meaning of modern physics.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0964.00052].