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This volume is dedicated to the centennial anniversary of Minkowski's discovery of spacetime. It contains selected papers by physicists and philosophers on the Nature and Ontology of Spacetime. The first six papers, comprising Part I of the book, provide examples of the impact of Minkowski's spacetime representation of special relativity on the twentieth century physics. Part II also contains six papers which deal with implications of Minkowski's ideas for the philosophy of space and time. The last part is represented by two papers which explore the influence of Minkowski's ideas beyond the philosophy of space and time.
List of contents
Minkowski's Representation of Special Relativity - Examples of Its Impact on the Twentieth Century Physics.- The Minkowskian Background of Whitehead's Theory of Gravitation.- The Experimental Verdict on Spacetime from Gravity Probe B.- Rigidity and the Ruler Hypothesis.- Minkowski Space and Quantum Mechanics.- Relativity and Quantum Field Theory.- Ether, the Theory of Relativity and Quantum Physics.- Implications of Minkowski's Ideas for the Philosophy of Space and Time.- Minkowski's Proper Time and the Status of the Clock Hypothesis.- Why Spacetime Is Not a Hidden Cause: A Realist Story.- Structural Explanations in Minkowski Spacetime: Which Account of Models?.- Relativity of Simultaneity and Eternalism: In Defense of the Block Universe.- Minkowski Space-Time and Thermodynamics.- No Presentism in Quantum Gravity.- The Impact of Minkowski's Ideas Beyond the Philosophy of Space and Time.- Space-Time, Phenomenology, and the Picture Theory of Language.- The Fate of Mathematical Place: Objectivity and the Theory of Lived-Space from Husserl to Casey.
About the author
Presently: Assistant Professor, Science College, Concordia University (in fact, I am associated with three departments - Liberal Arts College, Philosophy Department, and Science College)§1984 -1989: Adjunct Professor, Philosophy Department, Sofia University§1986 -1989: Researcher, Institute of Philosophy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences§Doctoral degrees in theoretical physics (1997, Concordia University) and philosophy of science (1988, Institute of Philosophy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences).
Summary
Dedicated to the centennial anniversary of Minkowski's discovery of spacetime, this volume contains papers, most presented at the Third International Conference on the Nature and Ontology of Spacetime, that address some of the deepest questions in physics.
Additional text
From the reviews:
“This book has a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn about the philosophical issues surrounding space and time. In fact, this is the book that is usually read for classes on the topic. … The writing is lucid, and he weaves the various topics together very nicely.” (Philosophy, Religion and Science Book Reviews, bookinspections.wordpress.com, May, 2014)
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From the reviews:
"This book has a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn about the philosophical issues surrounding space and time. In fact, this is the book that is usually read for classes on the topic. ... The writing is lucid, and he weaves the various topics together very nicely." (Philosophy, Religion and Science Book Reviews, bookinspections.wordpress.com, May, 2014)
