John Byron Manchak
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 5969178 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | John Byron Manchak |
| NOMBRES | John Byron |
| APELLIDO | Manchak |
| FIRMA | MANCHAK J B |
| AFILIACIONES | University of Washington |
| VERIFICADO | No |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 13 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 33 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 13 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2009 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2017 |
| ÍNDICE H | 4 |
On the Inextendibility of Space-Time
It has been argued that space-time must be inextendible—that it must be “as large as it can be” in some sense. Here, we register some skepticism with respect to this position
On Gödel and the Ideality of Time
Gödel’s remarks concerning the ideality of time are examined. In the literature, some of these remarks have been somewhat neglected while others have been heavily criticized. In this article, I propose a clear and defensible sense in which Gödel’s work bears on the question whether there is an objective lapse of time in our world
Epistemic “Holes” in Space-Time
A number of models of general relativity seem to contain “holes” that are thought to be “physically unreasonable.” One seeks a condition to rule out these models. We examine a number of possibilities already in use. We then introduce a new condition: epistemic hole-freeness. Epistemic hole-freeness is not just a new condition—it is new in kind. In particular, it does not presuppose a distinction between space-times that are “physically reasonable…
Time (hole?) machines
The Geometry of Conventionality
There is a venerable position in the philosophy of space and time that holds that the geometry of spacetime is conventional, provided one is willing to postulate a “universal force field.” Here we ask a more focused question, inspired by this literature: in the context of our best classical theories of space and time, if one understands “force” in the standard way, can one accommodate different geometries by postulating a new force field? We argu…
On Space-Time Singularities, Holes, and Extensions
Here, we clarify the relationship among three space-time conditions of interest: geodesic completeness, hole-freeness, and inextendibility. In addition, we introduce a related fourth condition: effective completeness
Essay Review
An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content
No no-go
What Is a Physically Reasonable Space-Time
Cosmologists often use certain global properties to exclude “physically unreasonable” cosmological models from serious consideration. But, on what grounds should these properties be regarded as physically unreasonable if we cannot rule out, even with a robust type of inductive reasoning, the possibility of the properties obtaining in our own universe
Time Travel
Here, we hypothesize that a smooth nongeodesic closed timelike curve is never most efficient with respect to total acceleration if a kink is permitted at the initial (terminal) point. We support our hypothesis in a variety of ways. Most notably, we show Malament's opposing conjecture concerning Gödel space-time to be false
Can we know the global structure of spacetime
On the Existence of “Time Machines” in General Relativity
Within the context of general relativity, we consider one definition of a “time machine” proposed by Earman, Smeenk, and Wüthrich. They conjecture that, under their definition, the class of time machine spacetimes is not empty. Here, we prove this conjecture
On Force in Cartesian Physics
There does not seem to be a consistent way to ground the concept of “force” in Cartesian first principles. In this article, I first review the literature on the subject. Then, I offer an alternative interpretation of force—one that seems to be coherent and consistent with Descartes’ project. Not only does the new position avoid the problems of previous interpretations, but it does so in such a way as to support and justify those previous interpre…
What Is a Physically Reasonable Space-Time
Cosmologists often use certain global properties to exclude “physically unreasonable” cosmological models from serious consideration. But, on what grounds should these properties be regarded as physically unreasonable if we cannot rule out, even with a robust type of inductive reasoning, the possibility of the properties obtaining in our own universe
The Geometry of Conventionality
There is a venerable position in the philosophy of space and time that holds that the geometry of spacetime is conventional, provided one is willing to postulate a “universal force field.” Here we ask a more focused question, inspired by this literature: in the context of our best classical theories of space and time, if one understands “force” in the standard way, can one accommodate different geometries by postulating a new force field? We argu…
On Space-Time Singularities, Holes, and Extensions
Here, we clarify the relationship among three space-time conditions of interest: geodesic completeness, hole-freeness, and inextendibility. In addition, we introduce a related fourth condition: effective completeness
Epistemic “Holes” in Space-Time
A number of models of general relativity seem to contain “holes” that are thought to be “physically unreasonable.” One seeks a condition to rule out these models. We examine a number of possibilities already in use. We then introduce a new condition: epistemic hole-freeness. Epistemic hole-freeness is not just a new condition—it is new in kind. In particular, it does not presuppose a distinction between space-times that are “physically reasonable…
On the Inextendibility of Space-Time
It has been argued that space-time must be inextendible—that it must be “as large as it can be” in some sense. Here, we register some skepticism with respect to this position
On the Existence of “Time Machines” in General Relativity
Within the context of general relativity, we consider one definition of a “time machine” proposed by Earman, Smeenk, and Wüthrich. They conjecture that, under their definition, the class of time machine spacetimes is not empty. Here, we prove this conjecture
Can we know the global structure of spacetime
On the Existence of “Time Machines” in General Relativity
Within the context of general relativity, we consider one definition of a “time machine” proposed by Earman, Smeenk, and Wüthrich. They conjecture that, under their definition, the class of time machine spacetimes is not empty. Here, we prove this conjecture
On Force in Cartesian Physics
There does not seem to be a consistent way to ground the concept of “force” in Cartesian first principles. In this article, I first review the literature on the subject. Then, I offer an alternative interpretation of force—one that seems to be coherent and consistent with Descartes’ project. Not only does the new position avoid the problems of previous interpretations, but it does so in such a way as to support and justify those previous interpre…
No no-go
What Is a Physically Reasonable Space-Time
Cosmologists often use certain global properties to exclude “physically unreasonable” cosmological models from serious consideration. But, on what grounds should these properties be regarded as physically unreasonable if we cannot rule out, even with a robust type of inductive reasoning, the possibility of the properties obtaining in our own universe
Time Travel
Here, we hypothesize that a smooth nongeodesic closed timelike curve is never most efficient with respect to total acceleration if a kink is permitted at the initial (terminal) point. We support our hypothesis in a variety of ways. Most notably, we show Malament's opposing conjecture concerning Gödel space-time to be false
Essay Review
An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content
Time (hole?) machines
The Geometry of Conventionality
There is a venerable position in the philosophy of space and time that holds that the geometry of spacetime is conventional, provided one is willing to postulate a “universal force field.” Here we ask a more focused question, inspired by this literature: in the context of our best classical theories of space and time, if one understands “force” in the standard way, can one accommodate different geometries by postulating a new force field? We argu…
On Space-Time Singularities, Holes, and Extensions
Here, we clarify the relationship among three space-time conditions of interest: geodesic completeness, hole-freeness, and inextendibility. In addition, we introduce a related fourth condition: effective completeness
On Gödel and the Ideality of Time
Gödel’s remarks concerning the ideality of time are examined. In the literature, some of these remarks have been somewhat neglected while others have been heavily criticized. In this article, I propose a clear and defensible sense in which Gödel’s work bears on the question whether there is an objective lapse of time in our world
Epistemic “Holes” in Space-Time
A number of models of general relativity seem to contain “holes” that are thought to be “physically unreasonable.” One seeks a condition to rule out these models. We examine a number of possibilities already in use. We then introduce a new condition: epistemic hole-freeness. Epistemic hole-freeness is not just a new condition—it is new in kind. In particular, it does not presuppose a distinction between space-times that are “physically reasonable…
On the Inextendibility of Space-Time
It has been argued that space-time must be inextendible—that it must be “as large as it can be” in some sense. Here, we register some skepticism with respect to this position
Physics (12 obras) · Mathematics (10 obras) · Computer Science (9 obras) · Epistemology (9 obras) · Philosophy (9 obras) · Theoretical physics (9 obras) · Cosmology and Gravitation Theories (8 obras) · Relativity and Gravitational Theory (7 obras) · Space (punctuation) (6 obras) · Theory of relativity (6 obras)