Smaller than small: Oxford professor questions stuff about space and time

16 December 2010

A new book by an Oxford University professor poses questions about commonly accepted philosophical and physical theories.

Professor Frank Arntzenius says our perception of space and time as three and one dimensional concepts should be extended to include other spaces, such as ‘charge space’ - one or more extra dimensions representing electro-magnetic charge.

He also opposes the popular philosophical view that objects, or indeed living things, can be grouped in many more ways than standard scientific classifications. ‘Philosophers sometimes argue that there’s no true or correct way of classifying things and that it’s always relative to an interest,’ Professor Arntzenius says.

‘I oppose this view. I think that fundamental natural groupings do exist. If that wasn’t true you couldn’t do anything in science. If one way of grouping things was as good as any other, there would be no order in the world at all.

’Professor Arntzenius’ book, Space, Time and Stuff will be published early next year. It is his first book and its compilation was prompted by publisher Oxford University Press.

It extends the ancient Greek theory that all properties are geometric properties by adding new spaces, such as charge space. ‘My idea is that everything is determined by its location in various spaces but there are more spaces than three dimensional space and time.’ he says.

He also questions the common idea that some objects are so small that they have no smaller parts. He suggests that every object has smaller parts but is not convinced that this theory aids the study of physics. ‘It’s like testing a new recipe and finding that it doesn’t work.’

Professor Arntzenius, says his book ‘was originally intended for smart 16-year-olds’ but has become more advanced than he intended. ‘It may not be read by that many people but I still think it’ll be relevant in five years’ time,’ he believes.

Its completion marks the end of his career as a philosopher of science and the beginning of his new work as a political philosopher. ‘You need to know modern physics and mathematics to be a philosopher of physics now and that’s becoming too hard for me.

‘Also, I want to do something useful. But if I hadn’t written this book I would have been far less happy about switching to the political philosophy.’

Professor Arntzenius has been the Sir Peter Strawson Fellow at University College, Oxford since 2007 having held top posts at Harvard, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Southern California and Rutgers University, New Jersey.

He has also worked for Friends of the Earth and Third World development groups, and has a keen interest in the environment and peace. ‘I’m continuing to work at University College but will be able to collate these interests with my new studies,’ he says.

For more information contact Professor Arntzenius at frank.arntzenius@philosophy.ox.ac.uk / 01865 276654