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Presentism and Relativity

Balashov, Yuri and Janssen, Michel (2002) Presentism and Relativity.

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Abstract

In this critical notice we argue against William Craig's recent attempt to reconcile presentism (roughly, the view that only the present is real) with relativity theory. Craig’s defense of his position boils down to endorsing a “neo-Lorentzian interpretation” of special relativity. We contend that his reconstruction of Lorentz’s theory and its historical development is fatally flawed and that his arguments for reviving this theory fail on many counts.

Keywords:Relativity, Philosophy of Physics, Spacetime, Philosophy of Time, Time, Metaphysics, Presentism, Persistence, Lorentz, Einstein
Subjects:Specific Sciences: Physics
Specific Sciences: Physics: Relativity Theory
ID Code:525
Deposited By:Balashov, Yuri
Deposited On:09 January 2002

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