Toward a Directionalist Theory of Space
On Going Nowhere- Authors:
- Publisher:
- 2020
Summary
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.
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Bibliographic data
- Copyright year
- 2020
- ISBN-Print
- 978-1-4985-7996-4
- ISBN-Online
- 978-1-4985-7997-1
- Publisher
- Lexington, Lanham
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 206
- Product type
- Book Titles
Table of contents
- Dedication No access
- Contents No access
- Preface No access
- Chapter 1 The Map to Nowhere and Beyond No access Pages 1 - 16
- Chapter 2 Spatial Directionalism No access Pages 17 - 32
- Chapter 3 A Directionalist Theory of Space No access Pages 33 - 48
- Chapter 4 Defending Spacelessness No access Pages 49 - 82
- Chapter 5 The Special Composition Question Revisited No access Pages 83 - 112
- Chapter 6 Does the Road to Nowhere Include Boundaries and Holes? No access Pages 113 - 136
- Chapter 7 Is Modern Physics a Roadblock to Going Nowhere? No access Pages 137 - 190
- Bibliography No access Pages 191 - 198
- Index No access Pages 199 - 204
- About the Author No access Pages 205 - 206





