H. Scott Hestevold

Toward a Directionalist Theory of Space (eBook, PDF)

On Going Nowhere

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

In Toward a Directionalist Theory of Space: On Going Nowhere, H. Scott Hestevold formulates a new relationalist theory of space by appealing to the view that the universe is directioned in the sense that there exist directional relations-a class of spatial relations that Leibniz overlooked. Extending the directionalist/relationalist theory of space to the problem of when it is that discrete objects compose a whole, Hestevold revisits his answer to the Special Composition Question. He also uses the directionalist/relationalist theory to formulate reductivist theories of boundaries and holes-theories that may allow one to resist the view that boundaries and holes are ontologically parasitic entities. Finally, he explores directionalism/relationalism vis-à-vis spacetime. After noting findings of modern physics that favor substantivalist spacetime and then developing metaphysical concerns that favor instead directionalist/relationalist spacetime, Hestevold notes the ontological benefit of endorsing spatiotemporal directional relations even if spacetime substantivalism is the winning theory.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury eBooks US
• Seitenzahl: 220
• Erscheinungstermin: 2. Juli 2020
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9798765183618
• Artikelnr.: 74841708

Autorenporträt

H. Scott Hestevold is professor emeritus of philosophy at The University of Alabama.

Inhaltsangabe

PrefaceChapter 1: The Map to Nowhere and Beyond
Chapter 2: Spatial Directionalism
Chapter 3: A Directionalist Theory of Space
Chapter 4: Defending Spacelessness
Chapter 5: The Special Composition Question Revisited
Chapter 6: Is the Road to Nowhere Without Boundaries and Holes?
Chapter 7: Is Modern Physics a Roadblock to Going Nowhere?
Bibliography