  Among the various attempts to formulate a theory of quantum gravity, a class
of approaches suggests that spacetime, as modeled by general relativity, is
destined to fade away. A major issue becomes then to identify which structures
may inhabit the more fundamental, non-spatiotemporal environment, as well as to
explain the relationship with the higher-level spatiotemporal physics.
Recently, it has been suggested that a certain understanding of functionalism
is the proper tool to suitably account for the recovery of spacetime. Here the
viability and usefulness of such a conceptual strategy is explored, by looking
at the various levels of spacetime emergence a theory of quantum gravity is
expected to deal with. Our conclusion will be that, while its viability is
clear also in a quantum gravity context, the import of spacetime functionalism
remains rather unsettled.
