Synchronic species aren’t diachronic species
Why 3D/4D metaphysical equivalence fails for the case of biological species
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10815033 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Thomas A C Reydon (0000-0002-1804-0532, Leibniz University Hannover, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 206 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-22 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Synthese (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0039-7857 • E-ISSN: 1573-0964 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11229-025-05206-0 |
| OpenAlex | W4413411805 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 49 |
The debate on the temporal persistence of entities is characterized by the opposition of two principal positions, three-dimensionalism (endurantism) and four-dimensionalism (perdurantism). Some authors have suggested that this opposition is misguided, because three-dimensionalism and four-dimensionalism are metaphysically equivalent accounts of persistence (3D/4D metaphysical equivalence). Recently, the case of biological species has been used as an example to argue that 3D/4D metaphysical equivalence does not hold in all cases, because different species concepts refer to different kinds of entities, some of which are best conceived of as three-dimensional entities while others are best seen as four-dimensional entities. This argument has not settled the question of 3D/4D metaphysical equivalence, however. The present paper revisits the debate by addressing new arguments that have been introduced recently and examining four assumptions on which these arguments rest. It is argued that these assumptions are problematic and shows why the thesis of 3D/4D metaphysical equivalence should still be rejected
Biology · Epistemology · Equivalence (formal languages) · Linguistics · Metaphysics · Philosophy of language · Philosophy of science · Ecology · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Philosophy and Theoretical Science · Slime Mold and Myxomycetes Research
The Poverty of the Linnaean Hierarchy
Science as a Process
Are Species Really Individuals?
A Radical Solution to the Species Problem
Relativistic Objects
Is endurantism the folk friendly view of persistence
The Philosophy of Evolutionary Theory
Species concepts should not conflict with evolutionary history, but often do
Generalizations and kinds in natural science
Whales, fish and Alaskan bears
Species in three and four dimensions
Complexity begets crosscutting, dooms hierarchy (another paper on natural kinds)
On radical solutions in the philosophy of biology
D/4D metaphysical equivalence
A Matter of Individuality
Eliminative Pluralism
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |