creators_name: Sereda, Kyle
creators_id: ksereda@ucsd.edu
type: conference_item
datestamp: 2012-10-15 13:12:36
lastmod: 2012-10-15 13:12:36
metadata_visibility: show
title: Was Leibniz the First Spacetime Structuralist?
subjects: history-of-philosophy-of-science
subjects: realism-anti-realism
full_text_status: public
keywords: Leibniz, Clarke, Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence, Belot, space, spacetime structuralism, relationism, modal relationism, substantivalism, structural realism, ontic structural realism   
abstract: I argue that the standard interpretation of Leibniz as a relationist about space is mistaken, and defend a reading according to which his correspondence with Samuel Clarke actually suggests that Leibniz holds a view closely resembling modern spacetime structuralism. I distinguish my proposal from Belot's recent reading of Leibniz as a modal relationist, arguing for the superiority of my reading based on the Clarke correspondence and on Leibniz's conception of God's relation to the created world. I note a tension between my proposal and Leibniz's ontology, and suggest that a solution is forthcoming and worth pursuing.
date: 2012-02-29
citation: Sereda, Kyle (2012) Was Leibniz the First Spacetime Structuralist? In: [2012] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 23rd Biennial Mtg (San Diego, CA) > PSA 2012 Contributed Papers <http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/view/confandvol/confandvol2012psa23rdbmsandcalpsacp.html>.
document_url: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9370/1/Was_Leibniz_the_First_Spacetime_Structuralist.pdf