The singular nature of space-time
Lam, Vincent (2007) The singular nature of space-time. In [2006] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 20th Biennial Mtg (Vancouver): PSA 2006 Contributed Papers.
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Abstract
We consider to what extent the fundamental question of space-time singularities is relevant for the philosophical debate about the nature of space-time. After reviewing some basic aspects of the space-time singularities within GR, we argue that the well-known difficulty to localize them in a meaningful way may challenge the received metaphysical view of space-time as a set of points possessing some intrinsic properties together with some spatio-temporal relations. Considering the algebraic formulation of GR, we argue that the space-time singularities highlight the philosophically misleading dependence on the standard geometric representation of space-time.
| Keywords: | General relativity, space-time singularities, space-time points, intrinsic properties, non-local feature, substantivalism, relationalism, algebraic formualtion. |
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| Subjects: | Specific Sciences: Physics: Cosmology Specific Sciences: Physics: Relativity Theory |
| Conferences and Volumes: | [2006] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 20th Biennial Mtg (Vancouver): PSA 2006 Contributed Papers |
| ID Code: | 3172 |
| Deposited By: | Lam, Vincent |
| Deposited On: | 11 Febuary 2007 |
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