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substantivalism

Noun CEFR C2

Definitions

The doctrine that space and time have an existence independent of physical things.

Examples

“Several philosophers of science have⟳ argued that the general theory of relativity actually supports spacetime substantivalism (if not separate⟳ spatial and temporal substantivalisms) since it allows solutions consisting of nothing but a differentiable manifold with metric tensor field […]”
“In it, Clarke defends on behalf of Newton a form⟳ of substantivalism according to which (absolute) space exists independently of matter⟳ and is as real as matter⟳.”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
See all C2 English words →

See also

substantivalist substantivation substantive substantive adjective substantive case substantive due process

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