Philosophy of Space and Time: Ontology and Dynamics

This lecture explores the philosophical perspectives on space, time, and laws of nature. It delves into the concepts of primitive ontology, dynamical structure, absolute space, relationalism, structural realism, determinism, and action at a distance. The discussion includes the views of Newton, Leibniz, Mach, and contemporary interpretations by Huggett and Barbour. The debate between relationalism and substantivalism, the nature of time, and the implications of determinism are also examined, along with the historical context of action at a distance in physics.