SUPPES PREDICATES FOR SPACE-TIME

We formulate Suppes predicates for various kinds of space-time: classi cal Euclidean, Minkowski's, and that of General Relativity. Starting w ith topological properties, these continua are mathematically construc ted with the help of a basic algebra of events; this algebra constitut es a kind of mereology, in the sense of Lesniewski. There are several alternative, possible constructions, depending, for instance, on the u se of the common field of reals or of a non-Archimedian field (with in finitesimals). Our approach was inspired by the work of Whitehead (191 9), though our philosophical stance is completely different from his. The structures obtained are idealized constructs underlying extant, ph ysical space-time.