Project description
Understanding the edge of the universe
What is the ‘edge’ of the universe? Some view it as heuristic, others as incoherent, and some as a law of nature. Boundary conditions in physics remain poorly understood. In this context, the ERC-funded EDGE project will classify the properties and roles of boundaries, from the separation of mind and world to interactions in coupled systems. It will explore how the universe’s boundary affects contemporary physics, aiming to develop a framework that reveals commonalities and differences between boundaries. The project will provide a comprehensive analysis of the universe’s edge, its ontology, applications, and implications for our understanding of existence.
Objective
The EDGE project is a philosophical study of the concept of an edge or boundary as it relates to the universe on the largest scale. But what does an edge refer to when the region is the entire universe? Despite widespread use of this boundary, there is little agreement about how to interpret it: some have called it “heuristic”; others “incoherent’; and still others a “law of nature”. There is no unified perspective on the general nature of boundary conditions in physics, and no agreed-upon conceptual foundation for how they apply to the entire universe.
We propose an ambitious but credible programme to overcome this challenging problem. We begin with a classification of the properties, uses, and epistemology of boundaries as they are generally used in physics, from the separation of mind and world to the interaction of two coupled systems, and over a wide range of theories. We then turn to cases in which the boundary of the entire universe plays a substantial role in the frontiers of physics. These threads will form the basis for a general framework for understanding boundaries in physics, establishing shared features as well as the dimensions along which they differ. This will finally allow us to produce the first general analysis of what the edge of the universe means in physics: its ontology, its uses, and how we know about it.
The pay-off of this project is a path-breaking new analysis in philosophy, which establishes a major new account of our universe at its farthest fringes. In physics, it stands to help clarify the pathway for those physicists actively developing the frontiers of science by using boundaries of this kind. More generally, it will establish a novel, accessible account of our place in the universe in comparison to the farthest reaches of our imagination. The ambition of the EDGE project is to produce such an account that is philosophically rigorous, scientifically sound, and still manages to capture a sense of wonder about the cosmos.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities philosophy, ethics and religion philosophy epistemology
- natural sciences computer and information sciences knowledge engineering ontology
- social sciences law
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC2A 2AE London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.