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    When there are no intervening material objects between tw... — Carmelics
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    Home/Modality & Possibility
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    When there are no intervening material objects between two spatial locations, we must postulate a series of intervening spatial entities to explain comparative distance judgements such as 'A is nearer to D than to F'.

    Modality & Possibility
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    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.The distance between two objects is measured in terms of the number of intervening entities between them.
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    • 2.We can meaningfully say 'A is nearer to D than to F' even when there is no chain of material objects between D and F.
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    • 3.To explain comparative distance judgements, an intervening series of entities is required.
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Comparative distance relations can be grounded in metric facts about space itself without requiring discrete intervening spatial entities as relata.
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    • 2.Leibniz's relational account of space shows distance is a well-founded phenomenon reducible to actual positional relations among existing objects, not interpolated entities.
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    • 3.Postulating infinite series of spatial intermediaries to ground every distance comparison generates a vicious regress, since those entities' distances also require explanation.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Kant's transcendental aesthetic establishes that space is a pure form of intuition, making distance a structurally prior condition rather than a derivative of enumerable intervening things.
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    • 2.If spatial distance were constituted by countable intermediary entities, fractional and irrational distances would be conceptually incoherent, which contradicts established geometry.
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    Topics

    Modality & PossibilityCausation

    Key Terms

    Comparative distance judgements(the act of measuring or deciding which things are nearer or farther away)
    When we compare how far apart two things are from each other, like saying one object is closer than another.
    Material objects(contrasted with non-physical or abstract entities)
    Physical things you can touch and see, like tables, rocks, or people—basically anything made of physical matter.
    Spatial locations(refers to the positions of objects A, D, and F in the statement)
    Specific positions or places in physical space where things can be found.
    postulate(Kant's use of 'postulate' in practical reason, distinct from theoretical knowledge or proof)
    A rational presupposition of the moral life — a belief that cannot be proven theoretically but must be assumed as a condition for the coherence of moral action.
    spatial entities(Potter (1977: 92))
    Postulated non-material intervening entities that are spatial in character, invoked to ground comparative distance judgements when no material objects occupy the intervening space.

    Connections

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    Philosophy of Language2 linked

    Related

    Comparative distance relations can be grounded in metric facts about space itsel...If spatial distance were constituted by countable intermediary entities, fractio...Kant's transcendental aesthetic establishes that space is a pure form of intuiti...

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: early-modern-india
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    Potter (1977: 92) refines the argument. We say that A is nearer to D than to F because there are more intervening objects between A and F than there are between A and D. Suppose however that between D and F there is no chain of material objects. How is it that we can still say “A is nearer to D than to F”? Potter answers: “In order to provide the material to explain this comparative judgement we must postulate an intervening series of entities, and these must be spatial”. Note that this explains
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Leibniz's relational account of space shows distance is a well-founded phenomeno...
    +5 moreShow less
    Postulating infinite series of spatial intermediaries to ground every distance c...The distance between two objects is measured in terms of the number of interveni...The required intervening entities must be spatial in nature.To explain comparative distance judgements, an intervening series of entities is...We can meaningfully say 'A is nearer to D than to F' even when there is no chain...

    Similar

    We can meaningfully say 'A is nearer to D than to F' even when there i...85%To explain comparative distance judgements, an intervening series of e...84%The distance between two objects is measured in terms of the number of...83%The best explanation of spatial separation (A being nearer to D than F...83%
    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit