Oxford University Press eBooks

There goes the neighbourhood...

Frank Arntzenius

Published Jan 1, 2012• 3 citations

Abstract

In this chapter it is argued that one cannot specify the state of the contents of a classical world, i.e. the state of matter and fields which is governed by classical physics, space-time point by space-time point, i.e. that classical worlds are not separable. But, it is argued, one can give such a state neighbourhood by neighbourhood, where these neighbourhoods can be as small as one likes. Moreover, it is argued, one can also give the geometric structure of classical space-times neighbourhood by neighbourhood. The upshot is that the structure of the content of classical worlds is less local than traditionally thought, while the geometrical structure of classical worlds is more local than traditionally thought.

DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199696604.003.0002

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