Single Idea 23002

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 6. Space-Time]

Full Idea

While spatial and temporal distances in relativity depend on one's relative state of motion, spatiotemporal distances within Minkowski spacetime do not. It therefore provides an invariant metric for describing the distances between things.

Gist of Idea

In relativity space and time depend on one's motion, but spacetime gives an invariant metric

Source

Baron,S/Miller,K (Intro to the Philosophy of Time [2019], 4.2)

Book Reference

Baron,S/Miller,K: 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Time' [Polity 2019], p.95


A Reaction

I doubt whether this solves all the worries which philosophers have, about relativity giving an account of time which contradicts our concept of time in every other area of our understanding.