The Ontology of Spacetime IIThe sixteen papers collected in this volume are expanded and revised versions of talks delivered at the Second International Conference on the Ontology of Spacetime, organized by the International Society for the Advanced Study of Spacetime (John Earman, President) at Concordia University (Montreal) from 9 to 11 June 2006. Most chapters are devoted to subjects directly relating to the ontology of spacetime. The book starts with four papers that discuss the ontological status of spacetime and the processes occurring in it from a point of view that is first of all conceptual and philosophical. The focus then slightly shifts in the five papers that follow, to considerations more directly involving technical considerations from relativity theory. After this, Time, Becoming and Change take centre stage in the next five papers. The book ends with two excursions into relatively uncharted territory: a consideration of the status of Kaluza-Klein theory, and an investigation of possible relations between the nature of spacetime and condensed matter physics, respectively. - Space and time in present-day physics and philosophy - Relatively low level of technicality, easily accessible - Introduction from scratch of the debates surrounding time - Broad spectrum of approaches, coherently represented |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 17 | |
Chapter 3 Identity Spacetime and Cosmology | 39 |
Chapter 4 Persistence and Multilocation in Spacetime | 59 |
Chapter 5 Is Spacetime a Gravitational Field? | 83 |
Chapter 6 Structural Aspects of SpaceTime Singularities | 111 |
Chapter 7 Whos Afraid of Background Independence? | 133 |
Chapter 8 Understanding Indeterminism | 153 |
Gödel Proper Time and Becoming in Relativity Theory | 207 |
Chapter 12 On Temporal Becoming Relativity and Quantum Mechanics | 229 |
Chapter 13 Relativity the Passage of Time and the Cosmic Clock | 245 |
From Time to Processes | 255 |
Chapter 15 Mechanisms of Unification in KaluzaKlein Theory | 275 |
Chapter 16 Condensed Matter Physics and the Nature of Spacetime | 301 |
| 331 | |
| 337 | |
Chapter 9 Conventionality of Simultaneity and Reality | 175 |
Chapter 10 Pruning Some Branches from Branching Spacetimes | 187 |
Common terms and phrases
absolute abstract achronal region algebraic argue background independence Belot branching Carlo Rovelli causal claim classical clock concept condensed matter context coordinate counterfactual covariance curve defined definition diachronic diffeomorphism distinct dynamical Earman Einstein Einstein field equations electromagnetic energy entities example exduring existence fact feature of space-time field equations formulation fundamental future gauge geodesics geometric given gravitational field hole argument identity indeterminism interpretation intuitive invariant Kaluza Klein Lagrangian light cone located low-energy mathematical object metaphysical metric field Minkowski spacetime non-local notion observer one-way velocity ontology Ontology of Spacetime Oxford particles particular Philosophy of Science physical possible QH liquid quantum field theory quantum gravity relation relationalism relativistic relativity of simultaneity Riemann tensor role Rovelli Section sense simultaneity Smolin space space-time points space-time singularities spatial spatiotemporal special relativity Stein structural realism substantivalism substantivalist superfluid symmetry tensor timelike tion topological tropes twistor unification University Press worldline