The deep metaphysics of space an alternative history and ontology beyond substantivalism and relationism / Edward Slowik.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Slowik, Edward, author.

Series:

European studies in philosophy of science ; 3.

European studies in philosophy of science

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space and time.

Metaphysics.

Relationism.

Ontology.

Space and time--History and criticism.

Physical Description:

342 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cham, Switzerland : Springer International Publishing, 2016.

Summary:

This volume explores the inadequacies of the two standard conceptions of space and time, 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. Readers will learn about specific problems with the dichotomy of substantivalism and relationism. 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 authors detail an alternative set of concepts that address these problems. They also develop 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 natural philosophers with contemporary physical theories.

Contents:

Substantivalism and Relationism Versus Newton and Leibniz

A (Contrarian's) Reappraisal of the History and Current State of the Ontology Debate in the Philosophy of Space

Newton's Neoplatonic Ontology of Space: Substantivalism or Third-Way?

Leibniz' Ontology of Space: Whither Relationism?

Motion, Matter, Monads, and Their "Forced" Relationship

Third-Way Spatial Ontologies: Past and Present

From Property to Structure: Exploring Contemporary Third-Way Conceptions of the Ontology of Space

Newton's Immobility Arguments and the Holism of Spatial Ontology

The 'Space" at the Intersection of Physics, Metaphysics, and Mathematics

The Multiple Paths Towards an Epistemic Structural Realist Spatial Ontology

The Deep Metaphysics of Space from the Seventeenth Century to Quantum Gravity

A New Taxonomy Beyond Substantivalism and Relationism I: Early Modern Spatial Ontologies

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

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

Notes:

Includes bibliography: (page 325-338) and index.

ISBN:

9783319448671

3319448676

OCLC:

962330685