Journal ArticleDOI
Is space-time discrete or continuous? — An empirical question
Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
It is argued that it is an open question whether or not space-time is discrete, and some possible empirical evidence is turned to, based on some slight differences between commonly occurring differential equations and their discrete analogs.Abstract:
In this paper I present the Discrete Space-Time Thesis, in a way which enables me to defend it against various well-known objections, and which extends to the discrete versions of Special and General Relativity with only minor difficulties. The point of this presentation is not to convince readers that space-time really is discrete but rather to convince them that we do not yet know whether or not it is. Having argued that it is an open question whether or not space-time is discrete, I then turn to some possible empirical evidence, which we do not yet have. This evidence is based on some slight differences between commonly occurring differential equations and their discrete analogs.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Topological Spatio–Temporal Reasoning and Representation
TL;DR: The theory thus accounts for qualitative spatial information, dealing with underspecified, symbolic information when accurate data are not available or unnecessary, and gives a basis for commonsense spatio–temporal reasoning by presenting a number of significant deductions in the theory.
Journal ArticleDOI
Indivisible Parts and Extended Objects: Some Philosophical Episodes from Topology's Prehistory
TL;DR: The authors retrace the prehistoire de la topologie depuis la problematisation philosophique de la nature and de la substance chez Zenon et Aristote, jusqu'au statut des solides etendus dans la physique moderne, en etudiant le debat opposant les partisans de lindivisibilisme aux partisans of l'anti-indivisybiliacisme, tels que Brentano et Whitehead
Journal ArticleDOI
Simples and Gunk
TL;DR: The authors provide a general overview of some of the current debates on their proper answers as well as a pair of slightly more detailed investigations into two issues of special interest in the recent literature devoted to these topics.
Journal ArticleDOI
Mathematical Constructivism in Spacetime
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine how constructive mathematics based on intuitionistic logic can recover the mathematics needed for spacetime physics, both technical and philosophical aspects of this important question are examined.
Journal ArticleDOI
Much Ado About Nothing: A Study of Metaphysical Nihilism
TL;DR: In this article, an investigation of metaphysical nihilism, the view that there could have been no contingent or concrete objects, is presented, and the connections of the nihilistic theses to other philosophical doctrines are discussed.
References
More filters
Book
Laws and symmetry
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a new epistemology based on belief as rational but lawless: Inference to the best explanation: Salvation by Laws? Towards a new Epistemology What if there are no laws? A manifesto.
BookDOI
Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science
TL;DR: In this paper, a rational reconstruction of the notion underlying the writings of Feyerabend and the later Kuhn is presented, where the translation failure between incommensurable concepts arises from the impossibility of fulfilling two conditions of adequacy that the context theory of meaning places an translations.
Book
The Analysis of Matter
TL;DR: One of the earliest and best philosophical studies of the new physics of relativity and quantum mechanics, The Analysis of Matter as discussed by the authors, was a companion volume to the Analysis of Mind, which had provided a similar service for psychology.
The Analysis of Matter
TL;DR: One of the earliest and best philosophical studies of the new physics of relativity and quantum mechanics, The Analysis of Matter as mentioned in this paper , was a companion volume to the Analysis of Mind , which had provided a similar service for psychology.
Book
Philosophical Problems of Space and Time
TL;DR: In this paper, a critical comparison of the theories of Newton, Riemann, Poincare, Eddington, Bridgman, Russell, and Whitehead is presented.