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Thus the picture of reality that emerges by taking quantum mechanics and general relativity seriously is quite radical: spacetime as [a background] “entity” has fully disappeared…. What the world is beyond these [background] regimes, and how we can describe, measure, or just think about it, are issues still immersed in a profound mystery.

Carlo Rovelli (1997)



Since the discovery of general relativity we no longer are sure of what spacetime is, and since the discovery of quantum mechanics we no longer are sure of what matter is.

Carlo Rovelli (1997)



[G]eneral relativity and quantum mechanics appear to be fully inconsistent with one another.

Carlo Rovelli (1997)



We do not have a new synthesis.

Carlo Rovelli (1997)



General relativity is structured in such a way to imply that there is something external to the system described.

Carlo Rovelli (1997)



… the very notion of a system’s state depends on the fact that an observer is observing it.

Carlo Rovelli (1997)