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The Deep Metaphysics of Space

An Alternative History and Ontology Beyond Substantivalism and Relationism

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Authors:
  1. Edward Slowik

    1. Department of Philosophy, Winona State University, Winona, USA

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  • Presents a new approach to the ontology of space
  • Examines theories of space from the Early Modern period
  • Analyzes the relationship between seventeenth century theories of space and current investigations in quantum gravity
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: European Studies in Philosophy of Science (ESPS)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxiv
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  4. The Deep Metaphysics of Space from the Seventeenth Century to Quantum Gravity

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 243-243
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    2. A New Taxonomy Beyond Substantivalism and Relationism I: Early Modern Spatial Ontologies

      • Edward Slowik
      Pages 245-273

    3. A New Taxonomy Beyond Substantivalism and Relationism II: Some Philosophical Prehistory of Quantum Gravity

      • Edward Slowik
      Pages 275-302

    4. Epilogue: The Post-Seventeenth Century Evolution of the Standard Dichotomy

      • Edward Slowik
      Pages 303-324

  5. Back Matter

    Pages 325-342
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Keywords

About this book

This volume explores the inadequacies of the two standard conceptions of space or spacetime, substantivalism and relationism, and in the process, proposes a new historical interpretation of these physical theories. This book also examines and develops alternative ontological conceptions of space, and explores additional historical elements of seventeenth century theories and other metaphysical themes.

The author first discusses the two main opposing theories of the ontology of space. One, known as substantivalism, proposes space to be an entity that can exist independently of material things. The other, relationism, contends that space is a relation among material things. Readers will learn about specific problems with this dichotomy. First, Newton and Leibniz are often upheld as the retrospective forerunners of substantivalism and relationism. But, their work often contradicts the central tenets of these views. Second, these theories have proven problematic when transferred to a modern setting, especially with regards to general relativity and the recent quantum gravity hypotheses.

The author details an alternative set of concepts that address these problems. The author also develops a new classificational system that provides a more accurate taxonomy for the elements of all spatial ontologies. This classification obtains successful analogies between Newton, Leibniz, and other naturalphilosophers with contemporary physical theories.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, Winona State University, Winona, USA

    Edward Slowik

About the author

Edward Slowik is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Winona State University, Winona, MN, USA, and Resident Fellow at the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science. His research interests are in the philosophy of space and time, and Early Modern philosophy, with special emphasis on the ontology of theories of space and spacetime, both contemporary and in Early Modern period.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Deep Metaphysics of Space

  • Book Subtitle: An Alternative History and Ontology Beyond Substantivalism and Relationism

  • Authors: Edward Slowik

  • Series Title: European Studies in Philosophy of Science

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44868-8

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2016

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-44867-1Published: 21 October 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-83153-4Published: 28 June 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-44868-8Published: 12 October 2016

  • Series ISSN: 2365-4228

  • Series E-ISSN: 2365-4236

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXIV, 342

  • Topics: Philosophy of Science, Metaphysics, History of Science

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