Philosophy 382
Bradford Skow

	
			Handout on the existence of space and time
			
			
Substantivalism:  

	1. 	Space and time exist.
	
	2. 	The spatial facts about material bodies are derived from the spatial 
		facts about the parts of space.
	
	3. x moves =df. x is first located at one part of space, and later at 
		another part of space.
	

Relationalism:	

	1.  Space and time do not exist.

	2. 	The spatial facts about material bodies are direct; they are not derived 
		from the spatial facts about the parts of space.

	3.	x moves relative to y =df. x and y are first one distance apart, and 
		later a different distance apart.




An argument for substantivalism based on "same place" talk:


	1.	I am in the same place today that I was in yesterday.
	
	2.	If I am in the same place today that I was in yesterday, then there are 
		such things as places.
	
	3.	Therefore, there are such things as places.
	

	
(Compare this argument to:
	
	
	1. Joe has the same mother as Moe.
	
	2. If Joe has the same mother as Moe, then there are such things as mothers.
	
	3. Therefore, there are such things as mothers.)




A relationalist definition of "x is in the same place as y":

	x is in the same place as y =df. x and y are near all the same material bodies.




An argument for substantivalism based on motion:


	1.	Some things move.
	
	2.	If some things move, then parts of space exist.

	3.	Therefore, parts of space exist.