For many years to come, this is sure to be the locus classicus with respect to which all those engaged with the literature on persistence must position themselves.

Kathrin Koslicki, Philosophical Review

Sider's efforts have opened the gate to a fertile field in logical space.

The Philosophical Quarterly

Four-Dimensionalism will be a valuable addition to our bookshelves.

The Philosophical Quarterly

Se alle

This is simply a superb book in metaphysics - handsomely written, cleverly argued, and exceedingly clear.

Hud Hudson, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Sider does not deny that this four-dimensionalist conception of persisting things is counterintuitive. His claim is that, all things considered, it yields a more coherent ontology than any of its competitors. His defence of this claim is impressive: bold, clear, wide-ranging and fair-minded; it is the best of its kind on offer.

Barry Dainton, Times Literary Supplement

Four-Dimensionalism defends the thesis that the material world is composed of temporal as well as spatial parts. This defense includes a novel account of persistence over time, new arguments in favour of the four-dimensional ontology, and responses to the challenges four-dimensionalism faces. Theodore Sider pays particular attention to the philosophy of time, including a strong series of arguments against presentism, the thesis that only the present is real. Arguments offered in favour of four-dimensionalism include novel arguments based on time travel, the debate beween spacetime substantivalists and relationalists, and vagueness. Also included is a comprehensive discussion of the paradoxes of coinciding material objects, and a novel resolution of those paradoxes based on temporal counterpart theory. In conclusion Sider replies to prominent objections to four-dimensionalism, including discussion of the problem of the rotating homogenous disk. Four Dimensionalism is an original and highly readable study of the metaphysics of time and identity.
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'Four-Dimensionalism' defends the thesis that the material world is composed of temporal as well as spatial parts. Along the way many topics concerning the metaphysics of time and identity over time are addressed. These include the status of past and future objects, the nature of motion and change, and much more.
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Introduction ; 1. The Four-Dimensional Picture ; 2. Against Presentism ; 3. Three- and Four-Dimensionalism Stated ; 4. In Favor of Four-Dimensionalism Part 1 ; 5. In Favor of Four-Dimensionalism Part 2: The Best Unified Theory of the Paradoxes of Coincidence ; 6. Arguments against Four-Dimensionalism ; Bibliography, Index
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`Sider has a number of good original arguments ... also he has done a good job of collecting arguments from a large and messy literature, including some that are often mentioned but never properly stated ... Sider has also done us all a service by thinking of a way of defining four-dimensionalism that ought to be acceptable to its opponents.' The Philosophical Quarterly `Dimensionally-challenged it may be, rigorous and analytic it certainly is, but many of the conclusions reached are startling ... His claim is that [four-dimensionalism] yields a more coherent ontology than any of its competitors. His defence of this claim is impressive: bold, clear, wide-ranging and fair-minded; it is the best of its kind on offer.' Barry Dainton, Times Literary Supplement
Les mer
Winner of the 2003 American Philosophical Association Prize
an intriguing new theory of the nature of reality clearly written and fun to read the debut of one of the best young philosophers in the field
Ted Sider is Professor of Philosophy at New York University
an intriguing new theory of the nature of reality clearly written and fun to read the debut of one of the best young philosophers in the field

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780199244430
Publisert
2001
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
445 gr
Høyde
225 mm
Bredde
145 mm
Dybde
22 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
280

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

Ted Sider is Professor of Philosophy at New York University