Time and SpaceThe first edition (2001) of this title quickly established itself on courses on the philosophy of time and space. This fully revised and expanded new edition sees the addition of chapters on Zeno's paradoxes, speculative contemporary developments in physics, and dynamic time, making the second edition, once again, unrivalled in its breadth of coverage. Surveying both historical debates and the ideas of modern physics, Barry Dainton evaluates the central arguments in a clear and unintimidating way and is careful to keep the conceptual issues throughout comprehensible to students with little scientific or mathematical training. The book makes the philosophy of space and time accessible for anyone trying to come to grips with the complexities of this challenging subject. With over 100 original line illustrations and a full glossary of terms, the book has the requirements of students firmly in sight and will continue to serve as an essential textbook for philosophy of time and space courses. |
From inside the book
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... present is real in a way the past is not, so what sort of reality does the past possess? It may seem obvious that time passes, that the present is steadily advancing into the future, but just what does the passage of time involve? These ...
... present is real in a way the past is not, so what sort of reality does the past possess? It may seem obvious that time passes, that the present is steadily advancing into the future, but just what does the passage of time involve? These ...
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... present day is continued in Chapters 13 and 14, where the impact of non-Euclidean geometries is considered, together with Kant's "hand" argument and Poincare's conventionalism. Chapter 15 is purely metaphysical: the topic is Foster's ...
... present day is continued in Chapters 13 and 14, where the impact of non-Euclidean geometries is considered, together with Kant's "hand" argument and Poincare's conventionalism. Chapter 15 is purely metaphysical: the topic is Foster's ...
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... present ; what is present will become past ; what is past was once present . Your birth was once present , but now lies in the past . Your next birthday lies in the future , but it is getting closer every day . Getting closer to what ? The ...
... present ; what is present will become past ; what is past was once present . Your birth was once present , but now lies in the past . Your next birthday lies in the future , but it is getting closer every day . Getting closer to what ? The ...
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... present; nothing becomes present and then ceases to be present. The differences between past, present and future are simply differences of perspective. If someone in Australiasays "It's sunny here," they are saying something true if it ...
... present; nothing becomes present and then ceases to be present. The differences between past, present and future are simply differences of perspective. If someone in Australiasays "It's sunny here," they are saying something true if it ...
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... present , that past and future events are different from those that are present - what could be more obvious ? But as Block theorists are fond of pointing out , there are plenty of other cases where our everyday experience seems to ...
... present , that past and future events are different from those that are present - what could be more obvious ? But as Block theorists are fond of pointing out , there are plenty of other cases where our everyday experience seems to ...
Contents
Tensed time | |
Dynamic time | |
Time and consciousness | |
Tangible space | |
Spatial antirealism | |
Zeno and the continuum I | |
Zeno and the continuum II | |
Special relativity | |
Relativity and reality | |
General relativity | |
Spacetime metaphysics | |
Time travel | |
Conceptions of void | |
the classical debate | |
Absolute motion | |
Motion in spacetime | |
Curved | |
Strings | |
Glossary | |
Web resources | |
Index | |
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Common terms and phrases
absolute space argue argument asymmetry at-at atoms B-theorist B-theory big bang Block theorist causal claim conception contents continuum curvature curved dark matter Descartes dimension direction discrete space distance relations distinction doctrine dynamic earlier Einstein entities Euclidean Euclidean space exist experience explain fact Figure finite Flatland force four-dimensional future galaxies geodesies geometry gravity Growing Block hence hole hyperplanes inertial effects infinite number interval Leibniz light locations material objects mathematical matter McTaggart metaphysical metrical Minkowski spacetime motion moving neo-Newtonian Newton Newtonian nomologically observable occur Oxford paradox particles past paths Philosophy physical plane position possess present Presentist problem properties quantum theory question reason region relationist relative rotating sense simultaneity sort spacetime points spatial relations speed string string theory structure substantival space substantivalist suppose surface temporal tensed tenseless things three-dimensional three-dimensional space true truthmakers two-dimensional universe velocity worldlines Zeno Zeno's Zeno's paradoxes