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Time and Space
These are just some of the fundamental questions addressed in Time and Space. Writing for a primary readership of advanced undergraduate and graduate philosophy students, Barry Dainton introduces the central ideas and arguments that make space and time such philosophically challenging topics. Although recognising that many issues in the philosophy of time and space involve technical features of physics, Dainton has been careful to keep the conceptual issues accessible to students with little scientific or mathematical training. Surveying historical debates and ideas at the forefront of contemporary thinking, the book is unrivaled in its coverage. Topics include McTaggart's argument for the unreality of change; static, tensed, and dynamic time; time travel and causal arrows; space as void, motion, and curved spac; as well as a non-technical introduction to the special theory of relativity and the key features of general relativity, spacetime, and strings. Dainton also addresses the relationship between the philosophy of time and broader human concerns involving actions, ethics, fatalism, and death.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 31, 2021
9.5/10
Excellent intro philosophy of time (first quarter) and intermediate (last three-quarters) philosophy of physics. I wish there had been more discussion of how space is different from time.
Excellent intro philosophy of time (first quarter) and intermediate (last three-quarters) philosophy of physics. I wish there had been more discussion of how space is different from time.
April 9, 2017
A good, strong review of various ideas explaining reality. It's dense, even very dense in places, but then again, I don't have enough mathematical background to fully understand all of the points. Still, I found a lot of things worth thinking about, and it's good to read something really challenging once in a while.
January 6, 2019
EN/CZ
This is indeed an excellent summary of the whole history of philosophy and physics of time and space. It certainly is not an easy book to read, but the difficulty lies in the subject matter itself and not in a uselessly convoluted style. Mr Dainton manages to present in a right balance various, often opposing, views on different topics from the philosophy of time and space, and when he offers his stance, he does so in a clear manner. Worth reading for anyone even just slightly interested in the topic.
Tato kniha by zasloužila vyjít i v českém překladu. Poskytuje skvělý přehled problematiky času a prostoru, všech hlavních myšlenkových směrů, jejich argumentů a Dainton dokáže názory jednotlivých stran prezentovat dosti vyváženě a když představuje svůj názor, je jasně vymezen (ač jeho prezentování se každopádně vůbec nevyhíbá).
This is indeed an excellent summary of the whole history of philosophy and physics of time and space. It certainly is not an easy book to read, but the difficulty lies in the subject matter itself and not in a uselessly convoluted style. Mr Dainton manages to present in a right balance various, often opposing, views on different topics from the philosophy of time and space, and when he offers his stance, he does so in a clear manner. Worth reading for anyone even just slightly interested in the topic.
Tato kniha by zasloužila vyjít i v českém překladu. Poskytuje skvělý přehled problematiky času a prostoru, všech hlavních myšlenkových směrů, jejich argumentů a Dainton dokáže názory jednotlivých stran prezentovat dosti vyváženě a když představuje svůj názor, je jasně vymezen (ač jeho prezentování se každopádně vůbec nevyhíbá).
June 4, 2025
Nice accessible writing. The subject matter, though, is just so abstract, so divorced from anything which could make an observable difference to the world, that it’s hard going, and difficult to understand why anyone should be interested.
Apparently, some very clever people spend their time wondering a) whether past and future are in some sense just as real as the present, even though they’re not currently being experienced; and b) whether empty space is something or nothing. Interesting questions to ponder on if you want to feel some sort of intellectual vertigo. But the answers offered, in the chapters I read before giving up, seemed to be pure speculation - by necessity, I guess.
Again, no criticism implied to the author, who gives a balanced overview of the subject and makes it as clear as possible.
Apparently, some very clever people spend their time wondering a) whether past and future are in some sense just as real as the present, even though they’re not currently being experienced; and b) whether empty space is something or nothing. Interesting questions to ponder on if you want to feel some sort of intellectual vertigo. But the answers offered, in the chapters I read before giving up, seemed to be pure speculation - by necessity, I guess.
Again, no criticism implied to the author, who gives a balanced overview of the subject and makes it as clear as possible.
June 27, 2022
accessible introduction to a fascinating array of topics.
June 17, 2023
This book blew my mind!
I doubt it was supposed to affect me the way it did. This book can be a doozy, so please don't rush through it, least you learn nothing from it. The writing is itself written simply, but the ideas are complex and will require rereading for some.
Dainton walks you through a gentle explanation of time. He asks questions of whether time is a subjective experience by our consciousness or an objective feature of the universe. Dainton explores elaborate theories such as A-series and B-Series temporal ordering among events, temporal passage and whether time flows or is static, and the growing block universe. We also visit a few Ontological arguments from Anselm.
Take it slow, take in what you can, and then read it over again if it went over your head.
I doubt it was supposed to affect me the way it did. This book can be a doozy, so please don't rush through it, least you learn nothing from it. The writing is itself written simply, but the ideas are complex and will require rereading for some.
Dainton walks you through a gentle explanation of time. He asks questions of whether time is a subjective experience by our consciousness or an objective feature of the universe. Dainton explores elaborate theories such as A-series and B-Series temporal ordering among events, temporal passage and whether time flows or is static, and the growing block universe. We also visit a few Ontological arguments from Anselm.
Take it slow, take in what you can, and then read it over again if it went over your head.
August 7, 2011
Excellente introduction. Idéal comme manuel.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews