Space from Zeno to Einstein: Classic Readings with a Contemporary Commentary

Book Overview

Learning through original texts can be a powerful heuristic tool. This book collects a dozen classic readings that are generally accepted as the most significant contributions to the philosophy of space. The readings have been selected both on the basis of their relevance to recent debates on the nature of space and on the extent to which they carry premonitions of contemporary physics. In his detailed commentaries, Nick Huggett weaves together the readings and links them to our modern understanding of the subject. Together the readings indicate the general historical development of the concept of space, and in his commentaries Huggett explains their logical relations. He also uses our contemporary understanding of space to help clarify the key ideas of the texts. One goal is to prepare the reader (both scientist and nonscientist) to learn and understand relativity theory, the basis of our current understanding of space. The readings are by Zeno, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Descartes, Newton, Leibniz, Clarke, Berkeley, Kant, Mach, Poincar , and Einstein.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262581698
• ISBN13: 9780262581691
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.0" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

theories about space and existence

This is a classic introduction to the main questions about space developed by well-know philosophers. Zeno's theories are my favourites. Any person interested in art, architecture, LIFE itself, should read the book. An interesting book for curious minds.

Nice History of the Philosophy of Space

Here is a nice Historical overview of where the current discourse has developed from. It would have been helpful to include this work with one on time, but the treatment of space as a stand alone subject was well done. This is a good place to begin one's study into the problems surrounding space and time.

A very good overview

The reviewers before me are of scholars, I am still a graduate student and read this book as a part of a philosophy course material about space and time. I find that the texts in the book are well chosen and the commentaries are very helpful.I recommend this book for students and laymen starting their way in the philosophy world.

Concept of Space

This is a very fine introductory book about the concept of Space from Zeno to Einstein through Aristo, Descartes, Kant. Author, for each segment provides relevant short readings from the original thinkers and a commentary section by him follows. This is a nice book to read before or paralel with Jammer's book on same topic. Author made a difficult subject very easy to understand.