Four-dimensionalism: An Ontology of Persistence and Time

Theodore Sider

Clarendon Press, 2003 - Philosophy - 255 pages

Four-Dimensionalism defends the thesis that the material world is composed of temporal as well as spatial parts. This defense includes a novel account of persistence over time, new arguments in favour of the four-dimensional ontology, and responses to the challenges four-dimensionalism faces. Theodore Sider pays particular attention to the philosophy of time, including a strong series of arguments against presentism, the thesis that only the present is real. Arguments offered in favour offour-dimensionalism include novel arguments based on time travel, the debate beween spacetime substantivalists and relationalists, and vagueness. Also included is a comprehensive discussion of the paradoxes of coinciding material objects, and a novel resolution of those paradoxes based on temporal counterpart theory. In conclusion Sider replies to prominent objections to four-dimensionalism, including discussion of the problem of the rotating homogenous disk. Four Dimensionalism is an originaland highly readable study of the metaphysics of time and identity.

About the author

Theodore Sider is in the Department of Philosophy, Rutgers University, New Jersey.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Four-dimensionalism: An Ontology of Persistence and Time; Mind Association Occasional Series; Ontology of Persistence and Time
• Author: Theodore Sider
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Clarendon Press, 2003
• ISBN: 0199263523, 9780199263523
• Length: 255 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / History & Surveys / Medieval