Four-dimensionalism : an ontology of persistence and time / Theodore Sider.

Format:

• Book

Author/Creator:

• Sider, Theodore, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Space and time.
• Time.
• Fourth dimension.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxiv, 255 pages) : illustrations

Other Title:

• 4-dimensionalism
• Ontology of persistence and time

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Clarendon Press, 2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Four-Dimensionalism defends the thesis that the material world is composed of temporal as well as spatial parts. This defense includes a novel account of persistence over time, new arguments in favour of the four-dimensional ontology, and responses to the challenges four-dimensionalism faces. Theodore Sider pays particular attention to the philosophy of time, including a strong series of arguments against presentism, the thesis that only the present is real. Arguments offered in favour of four-dimensionalism include novel arguments based on time travel, the debate beween spacetime substantival

Contents:

• 1. The Four-Dimensional Picture
• 2. Against Presentism. 1. Two issues in the philosophy of time: ontology and tense. 2. Cross-time spatial relations. 3. The truth-maker objection. 4. Presentism and special relativity
• 3. Three- and Four-Dimensionalism Stated. 1. Why fuss over formulation? 2. Four-dimensional stated. 3. What is three-dimensionalism? 4. Perdurance, endurance, presentism, and eternalism
• 4. In Favor of Four-Dimensionalism, Part 1. 1. Russell's argument from parsimony. 2. The argument from logic. 3. The A-theory of time is incoherent. 4. Four-dimensionalism and special relativity. 5. Space and time are analogous. 6. The problem of temporary intrinsics. 7. Arguments from exotica. 8. The argument from spacetime.

Notes:

• Includes bibliographical references (p. [187]-205) and index.
• Description based on print version record.
• Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

• 0-19-926352-3
• 1-281-94433-5
• 9786611944339
• 0-19-152958-3

OCLC:

70695276