Hacker News front pageRoberto Casati, Achille Varzi15 min readpaperadvanced
Holes (1996-2025)
Summary
This article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy explores the ontological and epistemological status of 'holes', examining whether they are real entities or mere linguistic constructs. It details the problems arising from their immaterial nature, such as perception and identity, and surveys various philosophical theories attempting to define them.
- Common sense treats holes as real, quantifiable objects, but their immateriality creates philosophical conundrums.
- Problems include explaining how holes are perceived, defining their identity criteria, and understanding their mereology.
- Theories range from denying holes exist (paraphrasing hole-talk) to defining them as spacetime regions, material parts, or disturbances.
- The article highlights the deep philosophical challenges in formalizing concepts of 'absence' or 'nothingness'.
Engineers interested in the philosophical challenges of formalizing concepts and modeling reality, especially 'nothingness' or 'absence', will find this a rigorous exploration.
8/10
