Is space-time discrete or continuous? — An empirical question

Synthese 103 (3):327--354 (1995)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In this paper I present the Discrete Space-Time Thesis, in a way which enables me to defend it against various well-known objections, and which extends to the discrete versions of Special and General Relativity with only minor difficulties. The point of this presentation is not to convince readers that space-time really is discrete but rather to convince them that we do not yet know whether or not it is. Having argued that it is an open question whether or not space-time is discrete, I then turn to some possible empirical evidence, which we do not yet have. This evidence is based on some slight differences between commonly occurring differential equations and their discrete analogs.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,829

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

A Model of Wavefunction Collapse in Discrete Space-Time.Shan Gao - 2006 - International Journal of Theoretical Physics 45 (10):1965-1979.
Simples and the possibility of discrete space.Neal A. Tognazzini - 2006 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 84 (1):117 – 128.
Is the brain analog or digital?Chris Eliasmith - 2000 - Cognitive Science Quarterly 1 (2):147-170.
Time, topology and physical geometry.Tim Maudlin - 2010 - Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 84 (1):63-78.
In Defence of Discrete Space and Time.Jean Paul van Bendegem - 1995 - Logique Et Analyse 38 (150-1):127-150.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
265 (#76,258)

6 months
10 (#265,304)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Location and Mereology.Cody Gilmore, Claudio Calosi & Damiano Costa - 2013 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Simples and gunk.Hud Hudson - 2007 - Philosophy Compass 2 (2):291–302.

View all 33 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

Science Without Numbers: A Defence of Nominalism.Hartry H. Field - 1980 - Princeton, NJ, USA: Princeton University Press.
The Analysis of Matter.Bertrand Russell - 1927 - London: Kegan Paul.
The Analysis of Matter.Bertrand Russell - 1927/1992 - Humana Mente 3 (9):93-95.
Science without numbers, A Defence of Nominalism.Hartry Field - 1980 - Revue Philosophique de la France Et de l'Etranger 171 (4):502-503.
Zeno's paradoxes and the tile argument.Jean Paul van Bendegem - 1987 - Philosophy of Science 54 (2):295-302.

View all 7 references / Add more references