Edward Slowik Livres

This volume critiques the inadequacies of the two primary conceptions of space: substantivalism, which views space as an independent entity, and relationism, which sees it as a relation among material things. It offers a fresh historical interpretation of these theories while exploring alternative ontological views of space and historical elements from the seventeenth century, along with various metaphysical themes. The author highlights issues with the dichotomy between substantivalism and relationism, pointing out that Newton and Leibniz, often seen as their forerunners, actually contradict key aspects of these views. Moreover, the author discusses the complications these theories face in modern contexts, particularly in relation to general relativity and contemporary quantum gravity hypotheses. To address these challenges, the author proposes a new set of concepts and develops a classificational system that provides a more accurate taxonomy for spatial ontologies. This system draws successful analogies between the ideas of Newton, Leibniz, and other natural philosophers with modern physical theories, offering a more nuanced understanding of the ontology of space.