SPAC 205
From Space and Time to Space-Time:
    Understanding Relativity
Spring 1999
TTh: 9:25-10:40
HB 227

Yuri Balashov
Office: 304 Herman Brown Hall
Phone: 527-8750 x3409
yuri@ruf.rice.edu

Office hours: MW 1:00-2:00 pm; TTh after class; or by appointment

SPAC 205:

From Space and Time to Space-Time: Understanding Relativity

Aristotle on Space, Time, and Motion

We begin our study of space-time structures with what Geroch calls "Aristotelian space-time," "Aristotelian framework," or "Aristotelian set-up." You might be curious to know what exactly is "Aristotelian" about this space-time structure -- what a great Ancient thinker Aristotle (384-322 BC) has to do with it. Although we cannot go much in-depth into the history of Ancient science and philosophy (this would require another course!), the following useful site (created by Rob Salgado, of Syracuse University, for a course somewhat similar to ours) will give you some hints. Please take a look at this site:

Aristotle's Space-Time (courtesy of Rob Salgado)

If you would like to know more about Aristotle, his life and work, visit any of these sites, which themselves have any interesting links (but don't get lost!):

Aristotle's Scientific Work (Fred Wilson, Rochester Institute of Technology)
Introduction to Aristotle (From S. Marc Cohen's course page, Department of Philosophy, University of Washington)

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