A Rational Cosmology: Space-as-Relationship

Essay XII

This is Essay XII of Mr. Stolyarov's series, "A Rational Cosmology," which seeks to present objective, absolute, rationally grounded views of terms such as universe, matter, volume, space, time, motion, sound, light, forces, fields, and even the higher-order concepts of life, consciousness, and volition. See the index of all the essays in "A Rational Cosmology" here.

The term "space-as-relationship" is synonymous with "distance" and "separation." In order to have any meaning, it cannot be a metaphysical primary. Rather, it must involve two or more distinct entities, or a single entity capable of motion and having its current position compared with respect to some earlier or later position.

It is self-evident (ubiquitously observable by all human sensory faculties) that not all distinct entities touch each other. There exist abundant examples of particular entities whose boundaries are not adjacent to the boundaries of other entities. No specific experiments are necessary to verify this claim, as evidence for it exists in the everyday experience of each human being.

As an illustration, the boundary of the entity "Pluto" does not contact the boundary of the entity "Big Ben." The entity "Taj-Mahal" also does not contact the boundary of the entity "Big Ben." Yet it is also self-evident that the entity "Taj-Mahal" would not need to alter its location to as substantial a degree as the entity "Pluto" would in order for its boundary to be immediately adjacent to that of the entity "Big Ben."

Thus, the degree to which the boundary of one entity can be separated from that of another can differ in magnitude. This variable separation is the reason for man's need to use the term "space-as-relationship."