The Shape of Space: Second Edition - Hardcover

Nerlich, Graham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521450144 ISBN 13: 9780521450140

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1994

Synopsis

This is a revised and updated edition of Graham Nerlich's classic book The Shape of Space. It develops a metaphysical account of space which treats it as a real and concrete entity. In particular, it shows that the shape of space plays a key explanatory role in space and spacetime theories. Arguing that geometrical explanation is very like causal explanation, Professor Nerlich prepares the ground for philosophical argument, and, using a number of novel examples, investigates how different spaces would affect perception differently. This leads naturally to conventionalism as a non-realist metaphysics of space, an account which Professor Nerlich criticises, rejecting its Kantian and positivistic roots along with Reichenbach's famous claim that even the topology of space is conventional. He concludes that there is, in fact, no problem of underdetermination for this aspect of spacetime theories, and offers an extensive discussion of the relativity of motion.

About this title

Review

'A fresh - and much needed - realistic perspective to the philosophy of space.' Philosophia

Book Description

In this revised and updated edition of his classic book, Graham Nerlich develops a metaphysical account of space as a concrete entity, showing it to play a key explanatory role in space and spacetime theories.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521450144
• ISBN 13: 9780521450140
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 308