Wessel Vinke (University of Oxford): ' Is there a hole in the hole argument?'
Abstract: The Hole argument can be interpreted as a problem for the substantivalist. Weatherall (2018) argues that this argument derives from an incorrect use of the formalism of general relativity. It is in essence a charge of equivocation against the Hole argument, as Pooley and Read (2021) have called it. Here, I present two criticisms of Weatherall’s account. Firstly, interpreting the term ‘sameness’ or ‘equivalence’ as being used in different senses is unfair to the original presentation of the Hole argument. Secondly, Weatherall’s objection depends on an unwarranted identification of the metaphysical issue at stake with the identity map in mathematical practice. (I may also be able to present an attempt at reconciliation with Weatherall’s insight.)
The PoP-Grunch (Philosophy of Physics Graduate Lunch) is a weekly informal seminar in which graduate students in Philosophy of Physics present their work in progress.
Philosophy of Physics Graduate Lunch Seminar Convenor: Eleanor March, Bryan Cheng and Paolo Faglia
