Travels in Four Dimensions The Enigmas of Space and Time

by Robin LePoidevin

"Space and time are the most fundamental features of our experience, and yet they are also the most puzzling." Robin Le Poidevin provides a clear, witty, and stimulating guide through these and many other puzzles and paradoxes. Drawing on a variety of examples from science, history, and literature, he gives a vivid sense of the difficulties raised by our ordinary ideas of space and time, and equips us to think about these problems for ourselves.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Physics, Time Travel, Nonfiction, Metaphysics

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really excellent introduction to debates about the metaphysics of time and space. It accomplishes much of its exposition by the use of amusing paradoxes. I'm planning on using its chapter on the passage of time (and maybe also its chapter on temporal direction) in a freshman-level introductory class. One great didactic strength of the book is that it sets up problems -- and disposes of easy solutions to them -- rather than providing solutions. It would be improved if it were clearer about the notion of n+3 spatial dimensions. In order to do so, it would have to answer the question: what would make a dimension a spatial dimension? Now _there_ is an interesting question!

[Michal Paszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear review of metaphysical problems involving space, time and infinity. It was a pleasure to read and I found many thought experiments I hadn't come across before - e.g. the splitting of a cone.

I especially feel I benefitted from some of the arguments in the end, one of which explained the idea of "Presentism" - that when you rewrite history textbooks, you have actually changed the past. A terribly foolish idea, but one that can be seen many times in recent history and even in the current political atmosphere.

[Vincent Konrad · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bunch of paradoxes that rely on assuming a lot of things and refusing to consider anything else.

Is a hippo a dog or a cat? It has some dog qualities and some cat qualities, but it's not fully either! Some say it's a different animal, but that doesn't solve the problem of whether it's a dog or a cat. What a paradox!

[M I Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really poses some thought provoking ideas about the universe in which we live.

[Hqwxyz · Rating 5 out of 5]

超级有意思的一本书！时间与空间真是“你不说我还明白、你一说我就不知道了”的东西。你没看过的“时间”与“空间”。

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the Philosophy of Space and of Time. Not as much material on the A-series/B-series split as I wanted but the foundation building up to that was excellent.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my reading for PHIL305 - Time & other Metaphysical Topics.