What Spacetime Explains: Metaphysical Essays on Space and Time

Graham Nerlich is one of the most distinguished of contemporary philosophers of space and time. Eleven of his essays are here brought together in a carefully structured volume, which deal with ontology and methodology in relativity, variable curvature and general relativity, and time and causation. The author has provided a new general introduction and also introductions to each part to bring the discussion more up to date and draw out the general themes. The book will be welcomed by all philosophers of physics, and of science in general.

• Nerlich is one of the most distinguished philosophers of science in this field • Minimizes the amount of physical theory so that many of the essays are not too technical: accessible to philosophers generally • New general introduction and introductions to each part bring ideas together and make the work more up to date

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.