On the ontology of spacetime

TL;DR

This paper explores the ontological nature of spacetime, arguing against presentism, proposing event substantivalism, and suggesting that relational and substantivalist views can be complementary through a pre-geometric framework.

Contribution

It introduces a novel ontological theory called event substantivalism and demonstrates how relational and substantivalist perspectives can be integrated.

Findings

Rejects presentism based on new argument.

Proposes event substantivalism as a form of spacetime realism.

Shows how pre-geometric relations can lead to substantival spacetime.

Abstract

I present a discussion of some issues in the ontology of spacetime. After a characterisation of the controversies among relationists, substantivalists, eternalists, and presentists, I offer a new argument for rejecting presentism, the doctrine that only present objects exist. Then, I outline and defend a form of spacetime realism that I call event substantivalism. I propose an ontological theory for the emergence of spacetime from more basic entities (timeless and spaceless `events'). Finally, I argue that a relational theory of pre-geometric entities can give rise to substantival spacetime in such a way that relationism and substantivalism are not necessarily opposed positions, but rather complementary. In an appendix I give axiomatic formulations of my ontological views.