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Work #600 · Late

Ways of Worldmaking

Nelson Goodman
1978 · English
Analytic philosophy · American analytic constructive empiricism / irrealist pluralism

Goodman's 1978 foundational text of irrealist pluralism — multiple worlds-of-our-making

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Ways of Worldmaking (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Plural
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Constructed
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Ways of Worldmaking

The constructive-temporal time of worldmaking.

Space

Ways of Worldmaking

The plural-constructed spaces.

Matter

Ways of Worldmaking

Matter as world-constructed.

Observer

Ways of Worldmaking

The worldmaking constructive observer.

Energy

Ways of Worldmaking

Energies of symbol-making.

Information

Ways of Worldmaking

Foundational constructive-irrealist framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Ways of Worldmaking

Goodman's irrealism in continuing controversy with metaphysical realism (Lewis, Kripke, Williamson).