Leibniz on Time, Space, and Relativity

Arthur offers new interpretations of Gottfried Leibniz's theories of time, space, and the relativity of motion, examining Leibniz's manuscripts and published papers in historical context and their contemporary relevance. He discusses Leibniz's influential views on relativity, geometry, and metaphysics, defending his views on the relativity of motion and presenting a detailed discussion of his relational theory of time. The book also includes translations of previously untranslated writings by Leibniz and an essay on his philosophy of relations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Arthur delves into the intricate theories of time, space, and the relativity of motion proposed by Gottfried Leibniz, offering fresh interpretations based on a meticulous examination of his manuscripts and published papers. These theories are analyzed not only in their historical context but also with an eye to their contemporary relevance. Leibniz's views on relativity, particularly his novel approach to geometry in his analysis situs, have had a profound influence on the works of Mach and Einstein. Arthur expands on this concept, elucidating its relationship to Leibniz's metaphysics of space and the grounding of motion, while defending his views on the relativity of motion against charges of inconsistency.

While his work on time has received less attention, Arthur aims to rectify this through a detailed exploration of Leibniz's relational theory of time. He demonstrates how this theory underpins his theory of possible worlds, his complex account of contingency, and his highly original treatment of the continuity of time, providing formal treatments in an appendix. Additionally, Arthur includes translations of previously untranslated writings by Leibniz on analysis situs and on Copernicanism, as well as an essay on Leibniz's philosophy of relations.

In his introductory chapter, Arthur explains how the framework for the book is provided by the interpretation of Leibniz's metaphysics he defended in his earlier works, such as Monads, Composition, and Force (OUP 2018, winner of the 2019 annual JHP Book Prize for the best book in the history of philosophy published in 2018). Through his meticulous research and insightful analysis, Arthur presents a comprehensive and compelling account of Leibniz's theories, shedding light on their enduring significance in the field of philosophy.

Weight: 800g
Dimension: 240 x 162 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192849076