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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... relationist denies the existence of these entities . For them the world consists of material objects , spatiotemporal relations and nothing else . Figure 1.1 illustrates the difference between these two competing views ; to simplify the ...
... relationist denies the existence of these entities . For them the world consists of material objects , spatiotemporal relations and nothing else . Figure 1.1 illustrates the difference between these two competing views ; to simplify the ...
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... relationist view is much more economical: the vast pervasive mediums posited by the substantivalist simply do not exist. We will start to explore this issue in Chapter 9, and it will remain centre stage for much of the remainder of the ...
... relationist view is much more economical: the vast pervasive mediums posited by the substantivalist simply do not exist. We will start to explore this issue in Chapter 9, and it will remain centre stage for much of the remainder of the ...
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... relationist controversy , and I will only be looking at the structural issues that are relevant to it . Since it turns out that a good many structural issues are relevant to it , we shall have occasion to enter into at least the ...
... relationist controversy , and I will only be looking at the structural issues that are relevant to it . Since it turns out that a good many structural issues are relevant to it , we shall have occasion to enter into at least the ...
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... relationist would reject the very idea that motion consists of moving on to pre-existing spatial locations; if motion consists instead of an object changing its spatial relations to other objects, what is to prevent an object from ...
... relationist would reject the very idea that motion consists of moving on to pre-existing spatial locations; if motion consists instead of an object changing its spatial relations to other objects, what is to prevent an object from ...
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... relationist view is correct , we are not embedded in anything analogous to a block of crystal ; the world consists of nothing but material bodies in spatial and temporal relations . But these interrelated things nonetheless constitute a ...
... relationist view is correct , we are not embedded in anything analogous to a block of crystal ; the world consists of nothing but material bodies in spatial and temporal relations . But these interrelated things nonetheless constitute a ...
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