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Foundations of Space-Time Theories

Relativistic Physics and Philosophy of Science
  • Michael Friedman and Michael Friedman
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2014
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About this book

This book, explores the conceptual foundations of Einstein's theory of relativity: the fascinating, yet tangled, web of philosophical, mathematical, and physical ideas that is the source of the theory's enduring philosophical interest.

Originally published in 1983.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Reviews

"

An excellent introduction to the philosophies of space and time. Foundations of Space-Time Theories is the result of the author's intellectual struggle to clarify the foundations of relativity theory for himself, and it will deeply influence all future thinking
about the philosophy of space and time.

"

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  • Publicly Available

    Frontmatter

    i
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  • Publicly Available

    Contents

    vii
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    Preface

    xi
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    I. Introduction: Relativity Theory and Logical Positivism

    1
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    II. Space-Time Theories

    32
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    III. Newtonian Physics

    71
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    IV. Special Relativity

    125
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    V. General Relativity

    177
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    VI. Relationalism

    216
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    VII. Conventionalism

    264
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    Appendix: Differential Geometry

    340
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    Bibliography

    368
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    Index

    377
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    Backmatter

    386
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
July 14, 2014
eBook ISBN:
9781400855124
Edition:
Course Book
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400855124
eBook ISBN: 9781400855124
Keywords for this book
Theory; Coordinate system; Special relativity; General relativity; Minkowski space; Theoretical physics; Theory of relativity; Simultaneity; Philosophy of space and time; Cosmological constant; Principle of relativity; Newton's law of universal gravitation; Geodesics in general relativity; Space; Hyperbolic space; Classical mechanics; Pseudo-Riemannian manifold; Galilean transformation; Gravity; Physical cosmology; Tangent space; Equivalence principle; Einstein notation; Cotangent space; Geodesy; Vector field; Gravitational acceleration; Classical electromagnetism; Acceleration; Axiom; Scalar (physics); Phase space; Lorentz group; Lorentz transformation; Gravitational constant; Gravitational potential; Gravitational field; Hyperbolic geometry; Four-dimensional space; Gravitational wave; Riemannian manifold; Classical physics; Philosophy of physics; General covariance; Euclidean space; Affine connection; Relativistic dynamics; Einstein tensor; Metric tensor (general relativity); Equations of motion; Einstein field equations; Orbit; Absolute rotation; Lorentz covariance; Variable (mathematics); Atomic theory; Geodesic; Symmetry group; Two-dimensional space; Emission theory; Relativity of simultaneity; Dimension; Three-dimensional space (mathematics); Conjunction (astronomy); Metric space; Pythagorean theorem; Scientific theory; Mass–energy equivalence; Speed of light; Newton's laws of motion
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