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Space, Supervenience and Entailment

Gibb, S.C.

Authors



Abstract

Le Poidevin has recently presented an argument that gives rise to a serious problem for relationist theories of space. It appeals to the simple geometrical fact that if A, B and C are three points lying in a straight line, then AB and BC together entail AC. He suggests that an ontological relationship of supervenience must be appealed to to explain this entailment. Given this thesis of supervenience, relationism is implausible. I argue that the problem that Le Poidevin raises for relationism should be rejected, because the thesis of supervenience is false. The latter rests upon what Le Poidevin refers to as ‘The explanatory principle’, a principle which he claims to be a natural extension of the truthmaker principle. Contrary to this, I argue that given any plausible theory of truthmaking, the explanatory principle is false. With the rejection of this principle, Le Poidevin’s argument against relationism collapses.

Citation

Gibb, S. (2006). Space, Supervenience and Entailment. Philosophical Papers, 35(2), 171-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/05568640609485177

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jul 1, 2006
Deposit Date Apr 11, 2007
Journal Philosophical Papers
Print ISSN 0556-8641
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 35
Issue 2
Pages 171-184
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/05568640609485177

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