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Mandersian Relationism: Space, Modality and Equivalence

Babic, Joshua and Cocco, Lorenzo (2023) Mandersian Relationism: Space, Modality and Equivalence. Philosophy of Science. ISSN 1539-767X

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Abstract

Modal relationism is the view that our best physical theories can dispense with substantival space or spacetime in favor of possible configurations of particles. Kenneth Manders argued that the substantivalist conception is equivalent to this Leibnizian conception of space. To do so, Manders provides a translation f from the Newtonian theory into the Leibnizian modal relationist account. In this paper, we show that the translation does not establish equivalence, since there is no reverse translation g that preserves theoremhood. This seems to show that the modal relationist theory is less parsimonious than its substantivalist rival.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Babic, JoshuaJoshua.Babic@unige.ch
Cocco, LorenzoLorenzo.Cocco@unige.ch
Keywords: Relationism, Substantivalism, Theoretical Equivalence
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Depositing User: Mr. Joshua Babic
Date Deposited: 08 May 2023 12:53
Last Modified: 08 May 2023 12:53
Item ID: 22082
Journal or Publication Title: Philosophy of Science
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Official URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/philosophy...
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Date: 11 April 2023
ISSN: 1539-767X
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22082

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