The Primacy of Geometry

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Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 44 (3):357-364 (2013)
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Abstract

We argue that current constructive approaches to the special theory of relativity do not derive the geometrical Minkowski structure from the dynamics but rather assume it. We further argue that in current physics there can be no dynamical derivation of primitive geometrical notions such as length. By this we believe we continue an argument initiated by Einstein.

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10.1016/j.shpsb.2013.01.003

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Author Profiles

Amit Hagar
Indiana University, Bloomington
Meir Hemmo
University of Haifa

Citations of this work

Minkowski spacetime and Lorentz invariance: The cart and the horse or two sides of a single coin.Pablo Acuña - 2016 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 55:1-12.
‘But one must not legalize the mentioned sin’: Phenomenological vs. dynamical treatments of rods and clocks in Einstein׳s thought.Marco Giovanelli - 2014 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 48 (1):20-44.
A Satisficing Theory of Epistemic Justification.Raimund Pils - 2022 - Canadian Journal of Philosophy 52 (4):450-467.

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References found in this work

Quantum Gravity.Carlo Rovelli - 2007 - Cambridge University Press.
Theory of relativity.Wolfgang Pauli - 1958 - New York,: Pergamon Press.
Drawing the line between kinematics and dynamics in special relativity.Michel Janssen - 2009 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 40 (1):26-52.

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