  Starting from Bunge's (1977) scientific ontology, we expose a materialistic
relational theory of space-time, that carries out the program initiated by
Leibniz, and provides a protophysical basis consistent with any rigorous
formulation of General Relativity. Space-time is constructed from general
concepts which are common to any consistent scientific theory and they are
interpreted as emergent properties of the greatest assembly of things, namely,
the world.

History and Philosophy of Physics;General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology