Inconsistent boundaries
Date
12/2014Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Mereotopology is a theory of connected parts. The existence of boundaries, as parts of everyday objects, is basic to any such theory; but in classical mereotopology, there is a problem: if boundaries exist, then either distinct entities cannot be in contact, or else space is not topologically connected (Varzi in Noûs 31:26–58, 1997). In this paper we urge that this problem can be met with a paraconsistent mereotopology, and sketch the details of one such approach. The resulting theory focuses attention on the role of empty parts, in delivering a balanced and bounded metaphysics of naive space.
Citation
Weber , Z & Cotnoir , A J 2014 , ' Inconsistent boundaries ' , Synthese , vol. In Press . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-014-0614-z
Publication
Synthese
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0039-7857Type
Journal article
Description
Research on this paper was supported by a grant from the Marsden Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand.Collections
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