inextended

Inextended is a term used in philosophy, particularly within discussions of ontology and metaphysics, to describe entities or concepts that are not spatially extended. This means they do not occupy a region of space in the way that physical objects do. The concept is often contrasted with "extended" entities, which are those that possess spatial dimensions.

Arguments for the existence of inextended entities typically revolve around non-physical phenomena or abstract objects. For instance, some philosophers might argue that consciousness, thoughts, or abstract mathematical objects like numbers are inextended. These are not located in space and do not have physical boundaries. The debate often centers on whether such entities can truly exist independently of any spatially extended substrate or if their existence is necessarily tied to physical processes.

The nature of inextended entities raises questions about their properties and how we can know or interact with them. If something is not extended, it cannot be measured in terms of length, width, or height. Understanding the category of the inextended is crucial for developing comprehensive metaphysical systems that account for the full range of reality, both physical and non-physical. The philosophical inquiry into the inextended continues to explore the boundaries of what it means to exist.