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  1. MisterSwig

    Physical Space

    No. Leibniz was too much of a theist and idealist for my taste.
    1 point
  2. MisterSwig

    Physical Space

    I think space is real, but not a thing, as in an object or body. It's what most people mean when they refer to nothing rather than a mere absence of something. You could look at the space between two trees and say there is nothing there, because you don't see a thing in that space. Then science can reveal that gas molecules are in that space, and with tools we can still see a space between the molecules. We can break the molecules into smaller pieces with space between them, but what of the space? As for whether space is physical, I don't see how it can be. But I'm curious about your idea of "physical." You say space has a structure. Is this a physical structure of some sort? Does that mean it's composed of particles or energy puffs or something else? If so, do these space things have space between them?
    1 point
  3. dream_weaver

    Physical Space

    An example I was presented with once: Imagine a box floating in outer space. To the box, a vacuum pump is attached. Envisioning a chamber of 12" cubed, the contention is that if everything has been evacuated from the chamber, one is left with a void. There is a context in which this is correct. The 12" cubical void could be filled with a variety of other matter, but it would not satisfy the individual who established the shifting criteria of the thought experiment. So long as the walls of the cube are 12" apart, at least the distance between the walls fill the cavity. The space therein is not matter, and if it is nothing then what is being discussed? If there were nothing between the walls of the cube, I would contend that they would be in contact with each other, and the 12" cube cavity would not exist. While the 12" cube is present, what is the identity and nature of that which fills it is a subject for the science of physics. Philosophy, in turn, evaluates the scientific claim to ensure it is free of contradiction.
    1 point
  4. tadmjones

    2020 election

    My estimation of Trump’s support led me to believe that he would win re-election and that if he didn’t win , it would be because of vote count manipulation. Sharing that sentiment cemented my conspiratorial nature and had me being branded as beyond naive and prey to vicious lies designed to overthrow the rule of law. I have to say I’m still comfortable in my deluded state and not ready to abandon it. The liars’ lies still seem plausible, the lies only seem to be more and more plausible , are they that well crafted ? Am I still blinded and completely deluded?
    1 point
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