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Geometry and Special Relativity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Geoffrey Joseph
Geoffrey Joseph*
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Abstract

The issue of the conventionality of geometry is considered in the light of the special theory of relativity. The consequences of Minkowski's insights into the ontology of special relativity are elaborated. Several logically distinct senses of “conventionalism” and “realism” are distinguished, and it is argued that the special theory vindicates some of these possible positions but not others. The significance of the usual distinction between relativity and conventionality is discussed. Finally, it is argued that even though the spatial metric within an inertial reference frame is euclidean, it is impossible to define unique objects which can serve as the relativistic surrogates of the spatial points of classical geometry.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 46 , Issue 3 , September 1979 , pp. 425 - 438
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1979

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