Lost in a Black Hole? Philosophy to the Rescue!

Abstract: The black hole information loss paradox is a catch-all term for a family of puzzles related to black hole evaporation. For 50 years, the quest to elucidate the implications of black hole evaporation has not only sustained momentum, but has also become increasingly populated with proposals that seem to generate more questions than they purport to answer. To remedy the dialectical gridlock, I formulate a unifying, foundational paradox and then taxonomize the relevant ‘camps’ or philosophical positions based on strategies to resolve it. Finally, I advocate for an overarching guiding principle to vet the overpopulated proposal space.