Elsevier S & T

The Ontology of Spacetime II

Dieks, Dennis

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Table of contents
  • Cover
  • Contentsv
  • List of Contributorsvii
  • Prefaceix
  • Chapter 1. A Trope-Bundle Ontology for Field Theory1
  • 1. Fields as properties of a substantial substratum1
  • 2. Fields as trope bundles6
  • 3. Examples of the FTB ontology11
  • 4. Conclusion14
  • Acknowledgement14
  • References14
  • Chapter 2. Is Structural Spacetime Realism Relationism in Disguise? The Supererogatory Nature of the17
  • 1. Three forms of scientific realism and their conceptual relationships19
  • 2. A reformulation of the substantivalism/relationism debate28
  • 3. The dual role of the metric field in GTR32
  • 4. Conclusion35
  • Acknowledgement35
  • References35
  • Chapter 3. Identity, Spacetime, and Cosmology39
  • The existence of Space40
  • The existence of Time43
  • Space-time substantivalism45
  • Space-time relationism51
  • Space-time as an abstract entity52
  • Acknowledgement56
  • References56
  • Chapter 4. Persistence and Multilocation in Spacetime59
  • 1. Introduction. Enduring, perduring and exduring objects in spacetime59
  • 2. Persistence and multilocation in generic spacetime61
  • 3. Persistence and multilocation in Galilean spacetime68
  • 4. Persistence and multilocation in Minkowski spacetime71
  • 5. Flat and curved achronal regions in Minkowski spacetime74
  • Acknowledgements80
  • References80
  • Chapter 5. Is Spacetime a Gravitational Field?83
  • 1. Introduction83
  • 2. Associating geometry and gravity85
  • 3. Geometrical and gravitational significance88
  • 4. What is a gravitational field in GR?91
  • 5. Geometric, field and egalitarian interpretations revisited99
  • 6. Just GR?102
  • 7. Summing up and conclusion107
  • Acknowledgements108
  • References108
  • Further reading110
  • Chapter 6. Structural Aspects of Space-Time Singularities111
  • 1. Introduction111
  • 2. Some aspects of the singular feature of space-time112
  • 3. Non-local aspects of the singular feature of space-time117
  • 4. Algebraic approach to the singular feature of space-time126
  • 5. Space-time as a structure: some perspectives and open issues129
  • References130
  • Chapter 7. Who's Afraid of Background Independence?133
  • 1. Introduction133
  • 2. Metaphysics of backgrounds134
  • 3. Definitions and disputations138
  • 4. Implications for the ontology of spacetime146
  • 5. Conclusion150
  • References150
  • Chapter 8. Understanding Indeterminism153
  • 1. Introduction153
  • 2. A few words about determinism154
  • 3. The indeterminism of the hole argument155
  • 4. Defining determinism: Early attempts at avoiding the hole argument156
  • 5. Defining determinism: Driving the wedge between the hole and the tower157
  • 6. Sophisticated determinism161
  • 7. Is sophisticated determinism right?163
  • 8. Arguing against sophisticated determinism165
  • 9. Concerns and conclusions171
  • Acknowledgement173
  • References173
  • Chapter 9. Conventionality of Simultaneity and Reality175
  • 1. Introduction175
  • 2. Any one-way velocity and simultaneity are conventional176
  • 3. Simultaneity and reality180
  • 4. Conclusion184
  • Acknowledgements184
  • References184
  • Chapter 10. Pruning Some Branches from ``Branching Spacetimes''187
  • 1. Introduction187
  • 2. Three types of spacetime branching188
  • 3. Problems with individual branching192
  • 4. Conclusion203
  • Acknowledgement203
  • References203
  • Chapter 11. Time Lapse and the Degeneracy of Time: Gödel, Proper Time and Becoming in Relativity Th207
  • 1. Preview of the argument207
  • 2. Gödel's arguments for the unreality of time209
  • 3. The Twin Paradox revisited212
  • 4. Modified Twin Paradox216
  • 5. Proper Time and Proper Length218
  • 6. Conclusion: process and becoming222
  • Acknowledgements226
  • References226
  • Chapter 12. On Temporal Becoming, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics229
  • 1.229
  • 2.236
  • References243
  • Chapter 13. Relativity, the Passage of Time and the Cosmic Clock245
  • Introduction245
  • 1. The passage of Time246
  • 2. The Objection from Relativistic Invariance248
  • 3. The Epistemic Objection249
  • 4. Making the passage of Time relativistically invariant252
  • Conclusion253
  • Acknowledgement253
  • References253
  • Chapter 14. Time and Relation in Relativity and Quantum Gravity: From Time to Processes255
  • 1. Essential temporality and timelessness in physics255
  • 2. The recurrence of this debate in quantum gravity259
  • 3. Process and relation267
  • Acknowledgements272
  • References272
  • Further reading273
  • Chapter 15. Mechanisms of Unification in Kaluza-Klein Theory275
  • 1. Puzzles of scientific unification276
  • 2. Similarities and dissimilarities between GR and EM280
  • 3. Kaluza's unification via the fifth dimension281
  • 4. Oskar Klein's compactification of x4285
  • 5. Kaluza's unification: its limits and its promises291
  • 6. Extrinsic element of unification and novel explanations in Klein294
  • 7. Conclusion298
  • Acknowledgements299
  • References299
  • Chapter 16. Condensed Matter Physics and the Nature of Spacetime301
  • 1. Introduction301
  • 2. Effective field theories in condensed matter systems302
  • 3. Spacetime analogues in superfluid helium303
  • 4. Spacetime analogue in quantum Hall liquids318
  • 5. Conclusion327
  • References328
  • Subject Index331
  • Author Index337
Book details
  • Vendor Elsevier S & T
  • SKU 9780444532756
  • ISBN-13 9780080569888
  • Author Dieks, Dennis
  • Category Science
  • Subject Astrophysics

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The 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