The identity of the parts of space and the problem of inertia

Abstract

Is space an entity in its own right or is it just a set of relations among coexisting material bodies? Leibniz and Newton argued along this line questioning the ontological status of physical space. While Leibniz was able to question the identity of the constituent points of space, Newton loaded relationism with the problem of inertia. The importance of inertial structure in this debate was recognized by Mach. His criticism of Newtonian absolute space became Einstein’s relational credo. In this article, following the relevant participants of the debate, it is shown that the issue about the identity of the constituent points (parts) of space is practically irrelevant compared with the problem of the origin of inertial structure. Conveniently, I include a brief presentation of  the neo-newtonian account of classical dynamics.