Slowik, Edward (2008) Newton, the Parts of Space, and Spacetime Structuralism. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This essay will investigate the interrelationship between the parts of space and topological and metrical structure in Newton’s natural philosophy, as well as its influence in contemporary spacetime debates. The historical background to Newton’s claims will form an important part of the investigation, in addition to an assessment of the recent articles by Nerlich, Huggett, Torretti, DiSalle, and several others, on this subject. While various aspects of these previous contributions will prove informative, it will be argued that the underlying goals of Newton’s pronouncements on the relationship among the parts of space, including their methodological and ontological implications for absolute space and contemporary spacetime theories, have largely eluded prior analysis.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Slowik, Edward
Keywords:	Newton, space and time, structuralism, Early Modern physics
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User:	Edward Slowik
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2008
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:17
Item ID:	4363
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date:	December 2008
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4363

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