Open astronomy: Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity

Debono, Franco

Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity / Debono, Franco (CC BY)

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fullscreen : Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity / Debono, Franco (CC BY)

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Title:: Open astronomy

Publication:: Warsaw, Poland: De Gruyter Open

Note:: Open Access; Namensnennung 4.0 International

Scope:: Online-Ressource

ISSN:: 2543-6376

ZDB-ID:: 2908865-3

VÖBB-Katalog:: 35294566

Previous Title:: Baltic astronomy

Keywords:: Zeitschrift

Classification:: Naturwissenschaften

Collection:: Naturwissenschaften

Copyright:: Rights reserved

Accessibility:: Free Access

Title:: Open astronomy

Publication:: Warsaw, Poland: De Gruyter Open

Note:: Open Access; Namensnennung 4.0 International

Scope:: Online-Ressource

ISSN:: 2543-6376

ZDB-ID:: 2908865-3

VÖBB-Katalog:: 35294566

Previous Title:: Baltic astronomy

Keywords:: Zeitschrift

Classification:: Naturwissenschaften

Collection:: Naturwissenschaften

Copyright:: Rights reserved

Accessibility:: Free Access

Article

Author:: Debono, Franco

Title:: Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity

Publication:: Warsaw, Poland: De Gruyter Open, 2025

Language:: English

Information:: Abstract: Based on the two postulates of the invariance of both the laws of physics and light speed in inertial frames, Einstein revolutionised the prevalent conceptions of space and time in the Special Theory of Relativity, which is not however without difficulties, due to gaping holes in its philosophical foundations. The first postulate is an unjustified and clumsily drafted extension of Galilean Relativity, while the second postulate, if interpreted as meaning that the speed of light will not be altered by a moving frame, does not lead to Lorentz transformations, but just reveals that a light ray is not transported by a moving frame. Reference frames involving light propagation do not exhibit the equivalence inherent in inertial frames, and hence could be classified as seemingly-inertial, being some category of non-inertial frames. Either equivalence, including simultaneity in both moving and stationary frames, is a defining characteristic of inertial frames, or else if inertial frames allow inequivalence, then they are not indistinguishable, which is a contradiction. All along, the definitions of “frames of reference,” “inertial frames,” and “simultaneity” and the “legal” drafting of the two postulates play a crucial role in the development and consistency of the Theory, almost as much as the thought experiments and the mathematics.

Scope:: Online-Ressource

Note:: Open Access; Archivierung/Langzeitarchivierung gewährleistet

Keywords:: special relativity ; foundations of covariance ; educational aspects of relativity theory

Classification:: Naturwissenschaften; Philosophie

DDC Group:: 100 Philosophie

URN:: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2511300235418.629979150975

Collection:: Naturwissenschaften; Philosophie

Copyright:: CC BY

Accessibility:: Free Access

Author:: Debono, Franco

Title:: Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity

Publication:: Warsaw, Poland: De Gruyter Open, 2025

Language:: English

Information:: Abstract: Based on the two postulates of the invariance of both the laws of physics and light speed in inertial frames, Einstein revolutionised the prevalent conceptions of space and time in the Special Theory of Relativity, which is not however without difficulties, due to gaping holes in its philosophical foundations. The first postulate is an unjustified and clumsily drafted extension of Galilean Relativity, while the second postulate, if interpreted as meaning that the speed of light will not be altered by a moving frame, does not lead to Lorentz transformations, but just reveals that a light ray is not transported by a moving frame. Reference frames involving light propagation do not exhibit the equivalence inherent in inertial frames, and hence could be classified as seemingly-inertial, being some category of non-inertial frames. Either equivalence, including simultaneity in both moving and stationary frames, is a defining characteristic of inertial frames, or else if inertial frames allow inequivalence, then they are not indistinguishable, which is a contradiction. All along, the definitions of “frames of reference,” “inertial frames,” and “simultaneity” and the “legal” drafting of the two postulates play a crucial role in the development and consistency of the Theory, almost as much as the thought experiments and the mathematics.

Scope:: Online-Ressource

Note:: Open Access; Archivierung/Langzeitarchivierung gewährleistet

Keywords:: special relativity ; foundations of covariance ; educational aspects of relativity theory

Classification:: Naturwissenschaften; Philosophie

DDC Group:: 100 Philosophie

URN:: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2511300235418.629979150975

Collection:: Naturwissenschaften; Philosophie

Copyright:: CC BY

Accessibility:: Free Access

fullscreen : Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity / Debono, Franco (CC BY)

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fullscreen : Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity / Debono, Franco (CC BY) Access restriction There is no access restriction for this record. Copyright CC BY: Attribution 4.0 International. You can find more information here.

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fullscreen : Lacunae in the philosophical foundations of special relativity / Debono, Franco (CC BY)

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CC BY: Attribution 4.0 International. You can find more information here.