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Epistemic “Holes” in Space-Time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

John Byron Manchak
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Abstract

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” and those that are not.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 83 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 265 - 276
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

†

Thanks to Jeff Barrett, Thomas Barrett, Erik Curiel, David Malament, Sarita Rosenstock, Chris Smeenk, Jim Weatherall, Chris Wüthrich, and a number of anonymous reviewers for helpful suggestions on previous drafts.

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