This book explains the relevant technical issues of general relativity theory and discusses how these issues bear upon philosophical problems about the nature of space and time, causality, and laws of nature. The first book to address these implications critically, it provides an overview of the technical literature as well as analytical commentary on its philosophical significance.

1. Introducing Spacetime Singularities and Acausalities ; 2. Defining, Characterizing, and Proving the Existence ; 3. Cosmic Censorship ; 4. Supertasks ; 5. The Big Bang and the Horizon Problem ; 6. Time Travel ; 7. Eternal; Recurrence, Cyclic Time, and All That ; 8. Afterword

"...I enthusiastically recommend this important work to anyone, philosopher or scientist, interested in the foundations of spacetime. Not only does the book include discussions of fascinating topics previously neglected by philosophers, but it is also chock full of original arguments in both physics and philosophy."--The Philosophical Review "This book should provide students of general relativity with a useful companion to the texts of Hawking and Ellis, Joshi and Clarke; professionals will also be interested in the different perspective it offers on work in global structure, and in its emphasis on points which can sometimes be lost in the detailed study of the mathematical structures involved." --Mathematical Reviews "A worthwhile and recommended addition to collections on the philosophy of science."--Choice "It is greatly to be hoped that this book, by setting out and elucidating the main problems, will stimulate more work in this area, so important for the understanding of the foundations of physics. Earman has shown in a most impressive way that the philosophy of science can develop only if it keeps closely in touch with the latest scientific advances."--International Philosophical Quarterly "...I enthusiastically recommend this important work to anyone, philosopher or scientist, interested in the foundations of spacetime. Not only does the book include discussions of fascinating topics previously neglected by philosophers, but it is also chock full of original arguments in both physics and philosophy."--The Philosophical Review "This book should provide students of general relativity with a useful companion to the texts of Hawking and Ellis, Joshi and Clarke; professionals will also be interested in the different perspective it offers on work in global structure, and in its emphasis on points which can sometimes be lost in the detailed study of the mathematical structures involved." --Mathematical Reviews "A worthwhile and recommended addition to collections on the philosophy of science."--Choice "It is greatly to be hoped that this book, by setting out and elucidating the main problems, will stimulate more work in this area, so important for the understanding of the foundations of physics. Earman has shown in a most impressive way that the philosophy of science can develop only if it keeps closely in touch with the latest scientific advances."--International Philosophical Quarterly