SPACE-TIME STRUCTURE IN THE ULTIMATE THEORY.

After criticizing the various existing attempts at extending the concept of the Minkowski space, the following problem is considered: If there is the ultimate theory at all, how should the space-time in it be formulated? The principle of "quantum priority" is proposed, and under this principle, it is argued that the ultimate theory should have the affine symmetry in the framework of quantum gravity. It is shown that the Poincaré symmetry of particle physics is realized as a result of spontaneous breakdown of the affine symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]