Getting back in shape: Persistence, shape, and relativity.
In this paper, we will introduce a novel argument (the "Region Argument") that objects do not have frame‐independent shapes in special relativity. The Region Argument lacks vulnerabilities present in David Chalmers' argument for that conclusion based on length contraction. We then examine how views...
| Published in: | Philosophy & Phenomenological Research Vol. 110; no. 1; pp. 75 - 97 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell
Jan2025
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=183923368&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 183923368 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00318205 PPO jtl: Philosophy & Phenomenological Research issn: 00318205 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Jan2025 vid: 110 iid: 1 pid: 480 pub: Wiley-Blackwell artinfo: ui: 183923368 10.1111/phpr.13092 ppf: 75 ppct: 22 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: C – @attributes: type: P size: 551KB tig: atl: Getting back in shape: Persistence, shape, and relativity. aug: au: Himelright, Jack Murgueitio Ramírez, Sebastián affil: Department of Philosophy, Kansas State University, Manhattan Kansas,, USA Department of Philosophy, Purdue University, West Lafayette Indiana,, USA su: Relativity Perdurantism & endurantism (Philosophy) Skepticism Philosophy sug: subj: Relativity Perdurantism & endurantism (Philosophy) Skepticism Philosophy keyword: Edenic properties endurantism four‐dimensionalism shape special relativity ab: In this paper, we will introduce a novel argument (the "Region Argument") that objects do not have frame‐independent shapes in special relativity. The Region Argument lacks vulnerabilities present in David Chalmers' argument for that conclusion based on length contraction. We then examine how views on persistence interact with the Region Argument. We argue that this argument and standard four‐dimensionalist assumptions entail that nothing in a relativistic world has any shape, not even stages or the regions occupied by them. We also argue that endurantists have viable ways of preserving shape despite the Region Argument. The upshot of these arguments is that contrary to conventional wisdom, considerations about shape in relativity support endurantism rather than four‐dimensionalism. We conclude by examining the implications of our discussion for the debate over Edenic shapes, noting that endurantists have a satisfying response to skeptical arguments about Edenic shapes similar to the one they have against the Region Argument. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Philosophy & Phenomenological Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Philosophy & Phenomenological Research holder: Wiley-Blackwell dt: @attributes: year: 2025 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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