Slowik, Edward (2025) Comparing Early Modern and Contemporary Emergent Space Ontologies: Kant, Quantum Gravity, and the Spatial Presence Problem. [Preprint]
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Abstract
This essay will explore historical and conceptual analogies between emergent theories of space in the Early Modern and contemporary periods, where an emergent space (spacetime) theory regards space as an emergent property or effect of a non-spatial (non-spatiotemporal) substance or substances. While emergent spacetime hypotheses are the dominate methodology in contemporary quantum gravity research, it will be demonstrated that the basic metaphysical presuppositions underlying Kant’s precritical monadology are roughly analogous to those assumed in various modern conceptions. In addition to demonstrating that contemporary emergent space ontologies are not a unique development, since there are Early Modern historical precedents, the main goal of the essay will be to reveal the lessons that both camps can draw from each other on possible lines of development, especially as regards the “spatial presence” problem, i.e., whether non-spatial elements illegitimately presuppose spatial concepts. Whereas the spatial presence problem presented a major obstacle to Kant’s monadology, the evolution of contemporary physics provides resources that have the potential to resolve that issue.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Additional Information: | This is a massively improved version of the PSA 2021 presentation paper, "Emergent Space Ontologies in the early Modern Period", also on philsci-archive, forthcoming in the HOPOS journal. | ||||||
| Keywords: | spatial ontology, spatial emergence, quantum gravity, Kant's monadology | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity |
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| Depositing User: | Edward Slowik | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 06 Nov 2025 13:35 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 06 Nov 2025 13:35 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 27131 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity |
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| Date: | 5 November 2025 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27131 |
Available Versions of this Item
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Emergent Spatial Ontologies in the Early Modern Period. (deposited 27 Mar 2024 11:21)
- Comparing Early Modern and Contemporary Emergent Space Ontologies: Kant, Quantum Gravity, and the Spatial Presence Problem. (deposited 06 Nov 2025 13:35) [Currently Displayed]
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