Proving the principle: Taking geodesic dynamics too seriously in Einstein's theory

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 43 (2):137-154 (2012)
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Abstract

In this paper I critically review the long history of attempts to formulate and derive the geodesic principle, which claims that massive bodies follow geodesic paths in general relativity theory. I argue that if the principle is interpreted as a dynamical law of motion describing the actual evolution of gravitating bodies as endorsed by Einstein, then it is impossible to apply the law to massive bodies in a way that is coherent with his own field equations. Rejecting this canonical interpretation, I propose an alternative interpretation of the geodesic principle as a type of universality thesis analogous to the universality behavior exhibited in thermal systems during phase transitions

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References found in this work

Idealization and modeling.Robert W. Batterman - 2009 - Synthese 169 (3):427-446.
Critical phenomena and breaking drops: Infinite idealizations in physics.Robert Batterman - 2004 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 36 (2):225-244.
Einstein and Singularities.John Earman & Jean Eisenstaedt - 1999 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 30 (2):185-235.

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