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From Nordan Symposia
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Space has a range of definitions:
Space has a range of definitions:
*One view of space is that it is part of the fundamental structure of the universe, a set of [[dimension]]s in which [[object (philosophy)|object]]s are separated and located, have size and shape, and through which they can move.
*One view of space is that it is part of the fundamental structure of the universe, a set of [[dimension]]s in which [[object (philosophy)|object]]s are separated and located, have size and shape, and through which they can move.
*A contrasting view is that space is part of a fundamental [[Abstract structure|abstract]] mathematical [[concept]]ual framework (together with [[time]] and [[number]]) within which we compare and [[quantity|quantify]] the distance between objects, their sizes, their shapes, and their speeds. In this view, ''space'' does not refer to any kind of entity that is a "container" that objects "move through".
*A contrasting view is that space is part of a fundamental abstract mathematical [[concepts|concept]]ual framework (together with [[time]] and [[number]]) within which we compare and [[quantity|quantify]] the distance between objects, their sizes, their shapes, and their speeds. In this view, ''space'' does not refer to any kind of entity that is a "container" that objects "move through".
These opposing views are relevant also to definitions of time. Space is typically described as having three dimensions, see [[Three-dimensional space]] and that three numbers are needed to specify the size of any object and/or its location with respect to another location. Modern [[physics]] does not treat space and time as independent dimensions, but treats both as features of [[space-time]] – a conception that challenges intuitive notions of distance and time.
These opposing views are relevant also to definitions of time. Space is typically described as having three dimensions, see [[Three-dimensional space]] and that three numbers are needed to specify the size of any object and/or its location with respect to another location. Modern [[physics]] does not treat space and time as independent dimensions, but treats both as features of [[space-time]] – a conception that challenges intuitive notions of distance and time.
