Publisher Description

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 thepresent is real. Arguments offered in favour of four-dimensionalism include novel arguments based on time travel, the debate beween spacetime substantivalists and relationalists, and vagueness. Also included is acomprehensive 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 original and highly readable study of the metaphysics of time and identity.

Notes

Winner of the 2003 American Philosophical Association Prize

Author Biography

Ted Sider is Professor of Philosophy at New York University

Table of Contents

Introduction1: The Four-Dimensional Picture2: Against Presentism3: Three- and Four-Dimensionalism Stated4: In Favor of Four-Dimensionalism Part 15: In Favor of Four-Dimensionalism Part 2: The Best Unified Theory of the Paradoxes of Coincidence6: Arguments against Four-DimensionalismBibliography, Index

Review

`Sider has a number of good original arguments ... also he has done a good job of collecting arguments from a large and messy literature, including some that are often mentioned but never properly stated ... Sider has also done us all a service by thinking of a way of defining four-dimensionalism that ought to be acceptable to its opponents.'The Philosophical Quarterly`Dimensionally-challenged it may be, rigorous and analytic it certainly is, but many of the conclusions reached are startling ... His claim is that [four-dimensionalism] yields a more coherent ontology than any of its competitors. His defence of this claim is impressive: bold, clear, wide-ranging and fair-minded; it is the best of its kind on offer.'Barry Dainton, Times Literary Supplement

Promotional

Winner of the 2003 American Philosophical Association Prize

Prizes

Winner of Winner of the 2003 American Philosophical Association Prize.

Long Description

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 of four-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 original and highly readable study of the metaphysics of time and identity.

Review Text

`Sider has a number of good original arguments ... also he has done a good job of collecting arguments from a large and messy literature, including some that are often mentioned but never properly stated ... Sider has also done us all a service by thinking of a way of defining four-dimensionalism that ought to be acceptable to its opponents.'
The Philosophical Quarterly
`Dimensionally-challenged it may be, rigorous and analytic it certainly is, but many of the conclusions reached are startling ... His claim is that [four-dimensionalism] yields a more coherent ontology than any of its competitors. His defence of this claim is impressive: bold, clear, wide-ranging and fair-minded; it is the best of its kind on offer.'
Barry Dainton, Times Literary Supplement

Review Quote

This is simply a superb book in metaphysics - handsomely written, cleverly argued, and exceedingly clear.

Feature

an intriguing new theory of the nature of reality
clearly written and fun to read
the debut of one of the best young philosophers in the field

Details