Manchak, JB (2025) Is the Universe As Large As It Can Be? A Study of Spacetime Possibility. [Preprint] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This book concerns the modal structure of spacetime within the context of Einstein’s general relativity. The aim is to expose a rich set of philosophical issues somewhat informally and from a bird’s eye view. No familiarity with general relativity is presupposed. A large number of examples (worked out in coordinates) and corresponding diagrams (over 130) will play a central role in illustrating the ideas involved. One of the intended readers is a non-expert. She is perhaps a philosophy graduate student just getting started with an interest in better understanding cosmic possibility delimited by Einstein’s theory. Under her belt, she has little more than some basic set theory and a passing acquaintance with calculus and vector spaces. The other intended reader is the expert. She will find several interconnecting lines of current research mapped out and a clear thesis defended.

The investigation will focus on the maximality property of spacetime -- the requirement that (a model of) the universe must be “as large as it can be.” The maximality of spacetime is something of a dogma within the context of generality relativity. In the background, it is often presupposed by practitioners without comment in order to go on to investigate a number of other foundational topics (e.g. determinism). Here, I do not defend or oppose the case for spacetime maximality. Instead, I simply put forward a thesis that nonetheless runs counter to the prevailing orthodoxy: it is not at all clear that the universe is as large as it can be. To shed light on the situation, 120 precise questions are identified and most are settled (see the final page). My hope is that, by drawing attention to these issues, even more progress can be made by others.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Manchak, JB jmanchak@uci.edu
Keywords:	Spacetime, Possibility, Modality, Maximality, Leibniz
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User:	JB Manchak
Date Deposited:	16 May 2025 12:43
Last Modified:	16 May 2025 12:43
Item ID:	25330
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date:	2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25330

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