Greetings all,
This coming Monday, June 15 David Miller, centre for time, will talk
to us about "Let's be constructive about space and time" at 1.00-2.30
in the philosophy common room. For further information see:
http://homepage.mac.com/centre.for.time/KristieMiller/Kristie/Current_Projects_2009.html
Abstract: The concepts of space and time have been important in both
philosophy and physics. In physics the main theory about space and
time is the theory of relativity (TR). Unusually for a physics theory,
TR was proposed by Einstein as a ?principle theory?, i.e. deduced from
quite general postulates or principles. Some people have always argued
that TR should be a ?constructive theory?, i.e. deduced from specific
laws of physics, like (almost) all other areas of physics. The latter
view has been advocated in the recent book by Harvey Brown and is
opposed by Michael Janssen and others. In this talk, I want explore
the constructive approach to TR and ask whether there are any
consequences for our concepts of space and time. I will suggest that
the constructive approach to TR supports the view that that rulers and
clocks can function and be understood without the need for a space and
a time to be sitting there waiting to be measured by them, i.e. it
suggests a non-substantival view of space and time.
See you there....
Dr. Kristie Miller
University of Sydney Research Fellow
School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry and
The Centre for Time
The University of Sydney
Sydney Australia
Room 411, A 18
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ph: 02 93569663
http://homepage.mac.com/centre.for.time/KristieMiller/Kristie/Home_Page.html
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