Abstract
The geometrical interpretation of general relativity provides the formalism with intuitive imagery (Chandler 1994). Such an interpretation often presupposes a substantival space: a space taken to be a real entity whose existence is independent of the matter contained. Nowadays an image of space-container seems to have wide acceptance among physicists. Special relativity is, however, usually still taught as the theory which overthrew Newton's absolute concepts (among which is the idea of a space-container).
This inconsistency is considered here. Special relativity can also be interpretedsubstantivally, as Minkowski did in 1908. His substantivalism is the key to layingout an internally coherent substantivalist line running from Newtonian mechanicsto general relativity.
Another plausible interpretative line, namely the ‘relationist line’, will be mentioned.It will allow us to conclude with remarks concerning the cultural and educationalimplications of a consistent interpretative apparatus organised in several interpretativelines.
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Levrini, O. The Substantivalist View of Spacetime Proposed by Minkowski and Its Educational Implications. Science & Education 11, 601–617 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019607F12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019607F12