Monday, January 22, 2018

Extended simples

  1. It is possible to have a simple that exists at more than one time.

  2. Four-dimensionalism is true.

  3. So, temporally extended simples are possible. (By 1 and 2)

  4. If four-dimensionalism is true, the time and space are metaphysically very similar.

  5. So, probably, spatially extended simples are possible.

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3 comments:

  1. Philip RandAugust 16, 2018 at 10:34 AM

    1.It is certain without any possibility of error a simple exists.


    2.Four-dimensionalism is true.


    3.Temporally an extended simple is physically real. (By 1 and 2)


    4.If four-dimensionalism is true, time and space are equivalent.


    5.So, spatially extended simples exist.

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  2. Philip RandAugust 16, 2018 at 12:19 PM

    You may take issue with proposition 1. (which is global; conclusion 5 is local)

    However, proposition 1 has only two options:

    1/ a simple is identical with itself.
    OR
    2/ a simple is non-identical with itself.

    In either case a simple is a piece of information; hence a certainty.

    Clearly, a simple is non-formal; hence non-intelligible without recourse to the Principle of Limitation which defines a simple.

    The inferences cannot be contradicted.

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  3. Philip RandAugust 17, 2018 at 3:15 AM

    Upon reflection the global simple is stronger if it is defined as:

    A simple is non-identical with itself. A simple is identical with itself.

    The advantage of using this global structure is that it leads to proposition 5/ straight forwardly:

    1/ simple is non-identical with itself -> a zero-solution that does not lead to additional physical phenomenon.

    2/ simple is identical with itself -> an extremization solution that leads to physical phenomenon.

    ReplyDelete