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Non-Spatial Matters: On the Possibility of Non-Spatial Material Objects

Davis, Cruz (2024) Non-Spatial Matters: On the Possibility of Non-Spatial Material Objects. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

While there is considerable disagreement on the precise nature of material objecthood, it is standardly assumed that material objects must be spatial. In this paper, I provide two arguments against this assumption. The first argument is made from largely a priori considerations about modal plenitude. The possibility of non-spatial material objects follows from commitment to certain plausible principles governing material objecthood and plausible principles regarding modal plenitude. The second argument draws from current philosophical discussions regarding theories of quantum gravity and the emergence of spacetime. When it is appreciated what possible worlds these current theories commit us to, the possibility of non-spatial material objects will follow. Thus, either route will lead us to the possibility of non-spatial material objects. The significance of this result is that we need to revise our accounts of material objecthood to both accommodate these possibilities and the theories that lead to them.


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Item Type: Other
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Davis, Cruzcruzdavis@umass.edu
Keywords: Nature of Materiality; Material Object Metaphysics; Location; Modal Plenitude; Spacetime Emergence
Depositing User: Mr. Cruz Davis
Date Deposited: 18 Apr 2024 06:40
Last Modified: 18 Apr 2024 06:40
Item ID: 23297
Date: 15 April 2024
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23297

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