Special relativity and the intrinsicality of shape

• Autores: Matthew Davidson
• Localización: Analysis, ISSN-e 1467-8284, Vol. 74, Nº. 1, 2014, págs. 57-58
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Shape properties are often considered paradigmatic intrinsic properties. For instance, David Lewis (1986) appeals to the intrinsicality of shape in his famous argument from temporary intrinsics against endurantism.

    However, from special relativity (SR), it follows that the three-dimensional shapes of objects aren't intrinsic to them.1,2,3 To see this, consider two (three or four-dimensional) objects, O1 and O2, both moving close to the speed of light at a constant velocity with O1 moving faster than O2 relative to a third object, O3. The shape of …