http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
1 online resource (xvi, 233 pages) : illustrations
How do material objects persist through time and survive change? Are they three-dimensional entities extended in space, or are they four-dimensional spacetime 'worms'? Balashov shows how the theory of relativity supports four-dimensionalism and in so doing illuminates a wide range of metaphysical issues.
Background and assumptions. Persistence and philosophy of time -- Atomism and composition -- Scope -- Some matters of methodology -- Persistence, location, and multilocation in spacetime. Endurance, perdurance, exdurance : some pictures -- More pictures -- Temporal modification and the "problem of temporary intrinsics" -- Persistence, location, and multilocation in generic spacetime -- An alternative classification -- Classical and relativistic spacetime. Newtonian spacetime -- Neo-Newtonian (Galilean) spacetime -- Reference frames and coordinate systems -- Galilean transformations in spacetime -- Special relativistic spacetime -- Length contraction and time dilation -- Invariant properties of special relativistic spacetime -- Persisting objects in classical spacetime. Enduring, perduring, and exduring objects in Galilean spacetime -- The argument from vagueness -- From minimal D-fusions to temporal parts -- Motivating a sharp cutoff -- Some objections and replies -- Implications -- Persisting objects in Minkowski spacetime. Enduring, perduring, and exduring objects in Minkowski spacetime -- Flat and curved achronal regions in Minkowski spacetime -- Early reflections on persisting objects in Minkowski spacetime : Quine and Smart -- "Profligate ontology"? -- Is achronal universalism tenable in Minkowski spacetime? -- "Crisscrossing" and immanent causation -- Conclusion -- Coexistence in spacetime. The notion of coexistence -- Desiderata -- Coexistence in Galilean spacetime -- Coexistence in Minkowski spacetime : CASH -- Alexandrov-Stein present and Alexandrov-Stein coexistence -- AS-Coexistence v. CASH : symmetry, multigrade, and objectivity -- AS-coexistence v. CASH : relevance -- The mixed past of coexistence -- No need in the extended now -- Strange coexistence? Coexistence and existence@ -- The asymmetry thesis -- The absurdity thesis -- Collective CASH value of coexistence -- Collective existence@ and coexistence in classical spacetime -- Collective existence@ and coexistence in Minkowski spacetime -- Contextuality -- Chronological incoherence -- Some objections -- Shapes and other arrangements in Minkowski spacetime. How rigid is a granite block? -- Perspectives in space -- Perspectives in spacetime -- Are shapes intrinsic to objects? -- The causal objection -- The micro-reductive objection -- Pegs, boards, and shapes -- Perduring objects exist.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2010