Travels in Four Dimensions

The Enigmas of Space and Time

Robin Le Poidevin

Does time really flow, or is that simply an illusion? Are our space and time unique, or could there be other, parallel worlds with their own space and time? Do space and time really exist, or are they simply the constructions of our minds? Robin Le Poidevin provides a clear, witty, and stimulating introduction to these deep questions, and many other mind-boggling puzzles and paradoxes. He gives a vivid sense of the difficulties raised by our ordinary ideas about space and time, but he also gives us the basis to think about these problems independently, avoiding large amounts of jargon and technicality. No prior knowledge of philosophy is required to enjoy this book.

Travels in Four Dimensions

The Enigmas of Space and Time

Robin Le Poidevin

Description

Does time really flow, or is that simply an illusion? Did time have a beginning? What does it mean to say that time has a direction? Does space have boundaries, or is it infinite? Are our space and time unique, or could there be other, parallel worlds with their own space and time? Do space and time really exist, or are they simply the constructions of our minds?

Robin Le Poidevin provides a clear, witty, and stimulating introduction to these deep questions, and many other mind-boggling puzzles and paradoxes. He gives a vivid sense of the difficulties raised by our ordinary ideas about space and time, but he also gives us the basis to think about these problems independently, avoiding large amounts of jargon and technicality. No prior knowledge of philosophy is required to enjoy this book. The universe might seem very different after reading it.

Travels in Four Dimensions

The Enigmas of Space and Time

Robin Le Poidevin

Preface
1. The Measure of All Things
2. Change
3. A Box with No Sides?
4. Curves and Dimensions
5. The Beginning and End of Time
6. The Edge of Space
7. Infinity and Paradox
8. Does Time Pass?
9. The Cinematic Universe
10. Interfering with History
11. Other Times and Spaces
12. The Arrows of Time
Concluding Thoughts
Mr Dunne's Dream and Other Problems
Further Reading
Bibliography
Index

Travels in Four Dimensions

The Enigmas of Space and Time

Robin Le Poidevin

Author Information

Robin Le Poidevin is Professor of Metaphysics at the University of Leeds. He is the author of Questions of Time and Tense and coauthor of The Philosophy of Time.