The Shape of Space : Second Edition

Graham Nerlich

ISBN 10: 0521450144 / ISBN 13: 9780521450140

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1994

About this Item

Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - 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.

Seller Inventory # 9780521450140

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Shape of Space : Second Edition
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521450144
• ISBN 13: 9780521450140
• Binding: Buch
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 235W x 157H x 23D millimeters 235 millimeters width by 157 millimeters height by 23 millimeters depth
• Weight: 653 grams

About this title

Synopsis

This is a revised and updated edition of Graham Nerlich's classic book (1976). It develops a metaphysical account of space that treats it as a real and concrete entity, showing that shape 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 investigates how different spaces would affect perception differently. Along the way Professor Nerlich criticizes and rejects conventionalism as a non-realist metaphysics of space, concluding that there is, in fact, no problem of underdetermination for this aspect of spacetime theories, while offering an extensive discussion of the relativity of motion.

Book Description

Originally published in 1976, this revised and updated edition of a classic study develops a metaphysical account of space, treating it as a real and concrete entity and showing that the shape of space plays a key explanatory role in space and spacetime theories.