Time and SpaceThese are just some of the fundamental questions addressed in Time and Space. Writing for a primary readership of advanced undergraduate and graduate philosophy students, Barry Dainton introduces the central ideas and arguments that make space and time such philosophically challenging topics. Although recognising that many issues in the philosophy of time and space involve technical features of physics, Dainton has been careful to keep the conceptual issues accessible to students with little scientific or mathematical training. Surveying historical debates and ideas at the forefront of contemporary thinking, the book is unrivaled in its coverage. Topics include McTaggart's argument for the unreality of change; static, tensed, and dynamic time; time travel and causal arrows; space as void, motion, and curved spac; as well as a non-technical introduction to the special theory of relativity and the key features of general relativity, spacetime, and strings. Dainton also addresses the relationship between the philosophy of time and broader human concerns involving actions, ethics, fatalism, and death. |
Contents
McTaggart on times unreality | 13 |
Static time | 27 |
Asymmetries within time | 44 |
Tensed time | 63 |
Time and consciousness | 93 |
Time travel | 110 |
Conceptions of void | 132 |
the classical debate | 151 |
Spatial antirealism | 232 |
Special relativity | 254 |
Relativity and reality | 269 |
General relativity | 284 |
Spacetime metaphysics | 301 |
Strings | 320 |
Notes | 335 |
Glossary | 349 |
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Common terms and phrases
absolute space argument asymmetry B-theorist B-theory backward causation causal claim conception contents curvature curved Descartes dimension direction distance relations distinction doctrine dynamic earlier Einstein entities entropy equations Euclidean Euclidean space exist experience explain fact Figure Flatland force four-dimensional future given gravity growing block Harshland hole hyperplanes inertial effects inertial frames intrinsic natures laws Leibniz light locations material bodies material objects matter McTaggart metaphysical metric Minkowski spacetime motion moving Newton Newtonian nomologically observable occur particles past paths plane position possess possible worlds present presentist problem properties quantum mechanics quantum theory question reason region relationist relative relevant rotating sense simultaneity sort spacetime points spatial relations spatiotemporal speed static block straight line string string theory structure substantival space substantivalist suppose surface t₁ t₂ temporal tensed tenseless theorist theory of relativity things three-dimensional three-dimensional space total of reality true truthmakers two-dimensional universe worldlines