What Spacetime Explains

Graham Nerlich is one of the most distinguished contemporary philosophers of space and time. What spacetime explains brings together eleven of his essays in a single carefully structured volume, dealing with ontology and methodology in relativity; variable curvature and general relativity; and time and causation. These essays argue that space and time are comprised in spacetime, that spacetime is real, and that its structure forms a main part of the apparatus of the explanation of science. Professor Nerlich provides a general introduction to his collection and also introductions to each part to bring the discussion up to date and to draw out the general themes. What spacetime explains will be welcomed by all philosophers of physics and of science in general.

Preface; Introduction; Part I. Ontology and Methodology in Relativity: 1. On learning from the mistakes of Positivists; 2. What ontology can be about with Andrew Westwell-Roper; 3. Special relativity is not based on causality; 3. Simultaneity and convention in special relativity; 5. Motion and change of distance; Part II. Variable Curvature and General Relativity: 6. How Euclidean geometry has misled metaphysics; 7. What can geometry explain?; 8. Is curvature intrinsic to physical space?; 9. Holes in the hole argument; Part III. Time and Causation: 10. Can time be finite?; 11. How to make things have happened; Bibliography; Index.