Four-dimensionalism

The Vierdimensionalismus is a position within the ontology and metaphysics, manifesting, according to which all objects in the world not just at any time of their respective present and then consist of its (possibly ) items, but also from so-called time slices ( "temporal parts" are constituted ), each extending into the past and future of that object. This was illustrated with the notion of an object as a kind of " space-time worm".

In contrast to eternalism or the idea of ​​a block universe, which relate to the philosophy of time in particular, is the Vierdimensionalismus primarily an approach to problems that arise from issues related to identity. A well-known since antiquity problem arises about the question of when exactly in the face of constant change an object loses its identity and becomes something else, or what circumstances are sufficient or necessary for it (cf. ship of Theseus ). From the perspective of Vierdimensionalismus the other hand, this question does not even arise because of the possibility of change based on said time slices, which are adopted in accordance with the identity of each object as just as essential as his manifested at any time of its existence items, already implies will. Since the identity of an object so it can not result solely from its current ( spatial ) structure from the perspective of the Vierdimensionalismus, but it is also based on the ( temporal ) " extension " in his past and future, a proximity to eternalism Finally, but certainly given, inasmuch as the idea from the point of presenteeism (only things present exists ) or the possibilism (including past, but not Future exists) seems implausible.

Among the objections to the Vierdimensionalismus is the question on how to bring on its own static, loose and unconnected acting space-time sheets with our everyday experience of change and dynamism in the world in line. A contrary position in turn can be found in Dreidimensionalismus, after the time is an entirely self-contained, independent of the space dimension and, accordingly, the identity of each object would be determined solely by its constitution in the three dimensions of space at each discrete moment of his existence, that is, each object is always given in full in his presence.