Philosophy 126

This course is an advanced introduction to various philosophical issues which arise in physics, focusing especially on the nature of space and time. Questions to be discussed include: what is motion? In what sense is classical mechanics deterministic? Does space exist (and what does that even mean)? What makes time different from space? In what sense does time have a direction? What does special relativity tell us about the nature of space and time? Do the past and the future exist? The necessary physics background will be presented from scratch, but solid high school physics is recommended.

As taught this semester, Phil 126, can satisfy group A of the Epistemology/Metaphysics requirement.