Spacetime as Emergent Quantum Thermodynamics: A Conceptual Framework

The foundational conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics calls for a fundamental reassessment of what spacetime is. This paper argues that “spacetime emergence” — the view that spacetime arises from a more fundamental, non-spatiotemporal structure — offers the most coherent conceptual framework for addressing this tension. Within this framework, space is interpreted as a geometric order parameter emerging from patterns of quantum entanglement, while time is understood as the macroscopic manifestation of the universe’s global entropy increase. Integrating insights from quantum information, holography, and black hole thermodynamics, we introduce two interpretive constructs: the entropy current [Formula: see text], which encodes the local direction of irreversible processes, and the effective Komar energy density [Formula: see text], which characterizes the work associated with cosmic expansion. In standard cosmology, [Formula: see text] directly governs the acceleration of the universe via [Formula: see text]. A central contribution of this paper is the proposal of a competition between entropy and Komar energy density as a thermodynamic key to unifying the understanding of global expansion and local structure formation. Building on this, this paper is intended as a systematic conceptual analysis and a clearly defined research program, aimed at clarifying foundational issues, integrating cross-disciplinary perspectives, and pointing toward testable avenues in future quantum gravity research.