Time and Space

by Barry Dainton

Surveying both historical debates and modern physics, Barry Dainton evaluates the central arguments in a clear and unintimidating way that keeps conceptual issues comprehensible to students with little scientific or mathematical training and makes the philosophy of space and time accessible to anyone trying to come to grips with the complexities of this challenging subject. With over 100 original line illustrations and a full glossary of terms, Time and Space keeps the requirements of students firmly in sight and will continue to serve as the ideal textbook for philosophy of time and space courses.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction, Physics, Education

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Vagabond of Letters, DLitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ray Gardener · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Petr · Rating 5 out of 5]

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).

[Steve Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

accessible introduction to a fascinating array of topics.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Alexandre Guay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellente introduction. Idéal comme manuel.