Asking ChatGPT about which prominent physicists believe quantity is an illusion yielded this noteworthy result:
The idea that quantity is an illusion is associated with the physicist Julian Barbour. Barbour is a proponent of a theory called “shape dynamics,” which suggests that the universe is fundamentally about relationships and shapes, rather than quantities or numbers. In this view, quantities like time, mass, and energy are not fundamental aspects of the universe, but are instead emergent properties that arise from the underlying shapes and relationships between objects.
Barbour’s ideas have been influential in some areas of theoretical physics, particularly in approaches that seek to reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics. However, it’s important to note that his views are not universally accepted, and many physicists would argue that quantities like time and mass are indeed fundamental aspects of the universe.
@Christy talk about a difference of worldviews