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It is well-known that Einstein's first paper E=mc2 on as published in the Annalen der Physik in 1905 is problematic in that it suffers from the error of circular reasoning. This means that it uses as one of its premises a statement which is equivalent to the conclusion of the paper, namely, that . E=mc2 This difficulty with the paper has been pointed out by many writers including Max Planck, Herbert Ives, Max Jammer and also biographers of Einstein including Gerald Holton and Arthur I. Miller. Unfortunately, the derivation is repeated today as being correct without any mention of the above criticisms of it. In view of this it seems to us worthwhile to have a clear and as simple as possible explanation of the logical difficulties associated with Einstein's 1905 derivation, and it is to this end that this paper is written. Herewith we present a very simple treatment of the problem which makes absolutely clear the logical difficulties in Einstein's first published work on E=mc2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a method for constructing spacetime diagrams for special relativity on graph paper that has been rotated by 45o. The diagonal grid lines represent light-flash worldlines in Minkowski spacetime, and the boxes in the grid (called "clock diamonds") represent units of measurement corresponding to the ticks of an inertial observer's light clock. We show that many quantitative results can be read off a spacetime diagram simply by counting boxes, with very little algebra. In particular, we show that the squared interval between two events is equal to the signed area of the parallelogram on the grid (called the "causal diamond") with opposite vertices corresponding to those events. We use the Doppler effect-without explicit use of the Doppler formula-to motivate the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his groundbreaking 1905 paper on special relativity, Einstein distinguished between local and global time in inertial systems, introducing his famous definition of distant simultaneity to give physical content to the notion of global time. Over the following decade, Einstein attempted to generalize this analysis of relativistic time to include accelerated frames of reference, which, according to the principle of equivalence, should also account for time in the presence of gravity. Characteristically, Einstein's methodology during this period focused on simple, intuitively accessible physical situations, exhibiting a high degree of symmetry. However, in the final general theory of relativity, the a priori existence of such global symmetries cannot be assumed. Despite this, Einstein repeated some of his early reasoning patterns even in his 1916 review paper on general relativity and in later writings. Modern commentators have criticized these arguments as confused, invalid, and inconsistent. Here, we defend Einstein in the specific context of his use of global time and his derivations of the gravitational redshift formula. We argue that a detailed examination of Einstein's early work clarifies his later reasoning and demonstrates its consistency and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is a continuation of the earlier paper Nyambuya (2007b) and the reader is advised to have both this paper and the present as they constitute a single unit paper. The paper was split into two for reasons of space and hence thus this paper starts off from section 10 and Nyambuya (2007b) ends with section 9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his paper, Einstein derived ΔL = Δmc² (light energy-mass equation). It has not been completely studied; it is only valid under special conditions of the parameters involved, e.g., number of light waves, magnitude of light energy, angles at which waves are emitted and relative velocity v. Einstein considered just two light waves of equal energy, emitted in opposite directions and the relative velocity v uniform. There are numerous possibilities for the parameters which were not considered in Einstein's derivation. ΔE = Δmc2 is obtained from ΔL = Δmc² by simply replacing L by E (all energy) without derivation. Fadner [Am. J. Phys. 56, 144 (1988)] correctly pointed out that Einstein neither mentioned E or ΔE = Δmc² in the derivation. Herein additional results are critically analyzed, taking all possible variables into account. Under some valid conditions of parameters, ΔL = ΔDmc² is not obtained, e.g., sometimes the result is Ma = Mb or no equation is derivable. If all values of valid parameters are taken into account, then the same derivation also gives L ∝ Δmc² or L = A Δmc², where A is a coefficient of proportionality. Thus, Einstein's derivation under valid parameters also predicts that energy emitted may be less than or more than ΔL = Δmc². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Examination of Einstein''s 1905 landmark paper On the electrodynamics of moving bodies reveals that his obtaining of the Lorentz transformation equations contains shortcomings apparently previously unnoticed or unremarked. Modifications of his analysis as well as extension of the procedures he has chosen allows his approach to be made into a complete proof, while still remaining within the framework of his method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this note, we show that the definitions proposed in J. Math. Phys. 41, 24 (2000); 41, 1718 (2000); 41, 1735 (2000) for the description of relativistic δ-sphere interactions and its various generalizations are not correct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present paper is to clarify, as far as it is possible, the overall picture of experimental results in the field of non-conventional phenomena in nuclear matter published in the scientific literature, accumulated in the past few decades and still missing a widely accepted interpretation. Completeness of the collection of the experiments is not among the aims of the effort; the focus is on adopting a more comprehensive and integral approach through the analysis of the different experimental layouts and different results, searching for common features and analogous factual outcomes in order to obtain a consistent reading of many experimental evidences that appear, so far, to lack a classification in a logic catalogue, which might be compared to a building rather than a collection of single stones. Particular attention is put on the issue of reproducibility of experiments and on the reasons why such a limitation is a frequent characteristic of many experimental activities reported in published papers. This approach is innovative as compared with those already available in the scientific literature. In a synoptical table, a comprehensive classification is given of the twenty experiments examined in terms of types of evidences that are ascertained by the experimenters in their published papers but are "unexpected" according to well-established physical theories. Examples of such unexpected evidences (named also non-conventional or weird) evidences are: excess heat generation, isotope production, reduction of radioactivity levels, and production of neutrons or alpha particles. These evidences are classified taking into account both the material where the evidence takes place (solutions, metals, rocks and artificial materials) and the stimulation techniques (supply of electric voltage, irradiation by photons, mechanical pressure) used to generate the evidences (which do not appear in the absence of such stimuli at an appropriate intensity). Also, in our paper, "identity cards" are provided for each experiment examined, including details that emerged during the experiment and were reported in each respective paper, that sometimes are not given adequate consideration either by the author of the experiment or in other review papers. The analysis of the details provides suggestions (also referred to as clues in this papers) used to formulate the content of the second part of each identity card, where inferences deduced from facts are outlined in view of presenting tentative interpretation at the microscopic level. This is done by concentrating attention on the clues repeated in different experiments in order to yield possible explanations of the "unexpected" evidences. The main outcome of such analysis is that, in all examined cases, a common "operation" can be identified: the stimulation techniques mentioned above can be interpreted as a sort of compression producing a ramp of energy densification (with reference to volumes in space or time coordinates). Here we use the term "compression" to indicate an operation activated by the experimenter; as such, it is objective. We consider energy densification an inference of possible consequences of the operation on the status of the system. Five types of densifications were identified. This reading in terms of energy densification is in accordance with the predictions of the Deformed Space Time theory, reported in the scientific literature, in the context of a generalization of the Einstein relativity theory, according to which the existence of energy thresholds is found to separate, for each interaction, the flat metric part from the deformed metric part and the appearance of new microscopic effects as a consequence of trespassing such thresholds. The phenomena occurring in the deformed part of the interaction metric are governed by the energy density in the space-time (volume and time interval). This energy density is computed from the threshold energies and is peculiar to the phenomenology under consideration. As a conclusion, it is suggested that the revealed qualified information, homogenized and elaborated on, might help in repeating, with proper adjustments and adequate additional instrumentation, some key experiments, in order to ensure systematic reproducibility, which is a prerequisite for interpretations and explanations to be sound and credible, as well in deriving from such an effort, indications for new experiments. It is uncomfortable that, after thirty years, there are still pending questions to which the most acknowledged physical theories are not capable of giving an answer. Even a definitive demonstration that all these experiments have decisive faults would be preferable than leaving the issue unaddressed. Major research agencies, for instance in the USA and in Europe, are moving in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into how the Chinese intellectual community of the early 20th century interpreted scientific ideas, specifically the “theory of evolution” and “theory of relativity.” The conservative publication, The Eastern Miscellany, underwent a transformation during the May Fourth Movement, embracing concepts like “Mutual aid: A factor of evolution” and the theory of relativity in the 1920s. Editors and writers used these scientific concepts to counter radical intellectuals, reshaping cultural and ideological perspectives in journal texts. This reinterpretation aimed to not only adopt modern values but also challenge the dogmatism of scientific discourses in China’s political and cultural context. Scholars associated the mutual help hypothesis with evolutionary studies, aligning it with cultural diversity and opposing centralized political structures. The relativistic theory, connected to anarchism and coexistence within civilization, offered an alternative discourse to radicalism, rejecting a singular modern value system. Their goal was to establish a discourse community reflecting their rationality and principles while restoring traditional values in Eastern civilization. This paper considers this as evidence of how they struggled to maintain conservative legitimacy during the political system’s modern transition and aims to elucidate it through textual analysis of contemporary magazines. Furthermore, the paper aims to remind us once again of the dangers of scientism, which are often overlooked when compared to the absolute nature of science that is still recognized today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we review and compare the stochastic quantum mechanics of Nelson and the scale relativity theory of Nottale. We consider both nonrelativistic and relativistic frameworks and include the electromagnetic field. These theories propose a derivation of the Schrödinger and Klein–Gordon equations from microscopic processes. We show their formal equivalence. Specifically, we show that the real and imaginary parts of the complex Lorentz equation in Nottale's theory are equivalent to the Nelson equations, which are themselves equivalent to the Madelung and de Broglie hydrodynamical representations of the Schrödinger and Klein–Gordon equations, respectively. We discuss the different physical interpretations of the Nelson and Nottale theories and stress their strengths and weaknesses. We mention potential applications of these theories to dark matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, frontiers represent a treacherous terrain to venture into, where hidden obstacles are present and uncharted territories lie ahead. At the same time, frontiers are also a place where new perspectives can be appreciated and have often been the cradle of new and thriving developments. With this in mind and inspired by this spirit, the Numerical Relativity Group at the Albert Einstein Institute (AEI) organized a `New Frontiers in Numerical Relativity'' meeting on 17-21 July 2006 at the AEI campus in Potsdam, Germany.It is an interesting historical remark that the suggestion of the meeting was first made in the late summer of 2005 and thus at a time that for many reasons has been a turning point in the recent history of numerical relativity. A few months earlier (April 2005) in fact, F Pretorius had announced the first multi-orbit simulations of binary black holes and computed the waveforms from the inspiral, merger and ring-down (`Numerical Relativity'', Banff International Research Station, Banff, Canada, 16-21 April 2005). At that time, the work of Pretorius served as an important boost to the research in this field and although no other group has yet adopted the techniques he employed, his results provided the numerical relativity community with clear evidence that the binary black hole problem could be solved. A few months later (November 2005), equally striking results were presented by the NASA Goddard and Texas/Brownsville groups, who also reported, independently, multi-orbit evolutions of binary black holes using numerical techniques and formulations of the Einstein equations which were markedly distinct from those suggested by Pretorius (`Numerical Relativity 2005'', Goddard Space Flight Centre, Greenbelt, MD, USA, 2-4 November 2005).A few months later other groups were able to repeat the same simulations and obtain equivalent results, testifying that the community as a whole had reached comparable levels of maturity in both the numerical techniques and the mathematical methods needed for successful solution of the Einstein equations for binary black holes. Clearly, an important frontier, and actually a long-awaited one, was finally open and the `gold rush'' was just about to begin by the time the `New Frontiers in Numerical Relativity'' meeting started its sessions in July 2006.And so, almost 20 years since the almost homonymous meeting held at Urbana-Champaign (`Frontiers in Numerical Relativity'', University of Illinois, IL, USA, 1988), the `New Frontiers in Numerical Relativity'' meeting at the AEI saw the enthusiastic participation of a great part of the community, with 127 participants present (in 1988 they were 55) and with a large majority being represented by students and postdocs, a reassuring sign of good health for the community. Faithful to the title of the conference, the programme was dedicated to the many and diversified `frontiers'' in numerical relativity and organized so as to have few talks with ample time dedicated to discussions.Overall, the talks presented at the meeting covered all of the most salient aspects of numerical relativity: from the formulation of the Einstein equations, over to the initial-value problem in general relativity, from the evolution of vacuum and non-vacuum spacetimes, to multiblock adaptive mesh-refinement techniques, from boundary conditions and perturbative methods, to relativistic fluids and plasmas. The contributions in this special issue represent a selection of that research, but also include invited papers from authors who were not present at the meeting but were pursuing research at the forefronts of numerical relativity.In addition to the more traditional sessions, the `New Frontiers in Numerical Relativity'' meeting also hosted a less traditional session, dedicated to an `unconstrained'' discussion which covered some of the most controversial issues that emerged during the conference. During this session, chaired by E Seidel, a lively discussion took place in the non-trivial attempt of marking the new frontiers on the map of numerical relativity. The transcript of this discussion is an integral part of this issue and it is available, along with the audio recording, in the online version only. We believe they embody an important part of the development of this field and, like a good bottle of wine, it will be interesting to read them again once sufficiently aged.As a concluding remark we note that it is almost one year since the `New Frontiers in Numerical Relativity'' meeting and dozens of excellent papers have been published or posted on the preprint archive. Some of the scientific results obtained over these months, especially those revolving around binary black holes, were simply unimaginable a few years ago and represent an indisputable evidence that the research in numerical relativity has never been as exciting as it is now.These results have already had an impact in astrophysics and the community interested in the analysis of gravitational-wave data, thus opening new and different frontiers in numerical relativity. Interestingly, all of this is happening while ground-based gravitational wave detectors in the US and Europe are operating at a sensitivity such that gravitational radiation may soon be directly detected.While much still needs to be understood and improved, the gold rush towards the new frontiers of numerical relativity does not yet show any sign of being close to a rapid end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate accepted claims that relate to the gestation of Einstein’s corpus papers of 1905. Contrary to what is generally believed, Einstein had much interaction with the scientific community and with specific works that were co-evolving with his own ideas. At the very least, the question of credit should be revisited on several points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze in our paper questions of the theory of relativity. We approach this theory from the point of view of velocities and their composition. This is where the functional equations appear. Solving them leads to a world where velocities are bounded from above, the upper bound being exactly the "speed of light". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the significant – albeit little-known – impact that physicist Albert Einstein's theory of relativity had on the development of the science of linguistics. Both Max Talmey, a physician who played a key role in the development of early twentieth-century constructed-language movements, and Benjamin Lee Whorf, who is closely associated with the notion of 'linguistic relativity', drew on their understanding of relativity to develop their ideas (and, in Talmey's case, also on his personal relationship with Einstein). Linguistic relativity, which posits that humans' linguistic categories shape their perceptions of nature, has often been tied to 'relativism' in the social sciences and humanities. In contrast, Talmey's commitment to reformulating the language of Einsteinian relativity – especially through a constructed language he built in the 1920s and 1930s – emphasized the significance of 'invariance' simultaneously in the scientific doctrine and in the language in which it was discussed. The semiotic flexibility of Einstein's 'relativity theory' as it was widely (and wildly) appropriated outside the small community of theoretical physicists enabled the two opposing moves, while obscuring the historical linkage between physics and linguistics for both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragmentalism was first introduced by Kit Fine in his 'Tense and Reality' (Modality and tense: philosophical papers, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 261–320, 2005). According to fragmentalism, reality is an inherently perspectival place that exhibits a fragmented structure. The current paper defends the fragmentalist interpretation of the special theory of relativity, which Fine briefly considers in his paper. The fragmentalist interpretation makes room for genuine facts regarding absolute simultaneity, duration and length. One might worry that positing such variant properties is a turn for the worse in terms of theoretical virtues because such properties are not involved in physical explanations and hence theoretically redundant. It will be argued that this is not right: if variant properties are indeed instantiated, they will also be involved in straightforward physical explanations and hence not explanatorily redundant. Hofweber and Lange, in their 'Fine's Fragmentalist Interpretation of Special Relativity' (Noûs 51:871–883, 2017), object that the fragmentalist interpretation is in tension with the right explanation of the Lorentz transformations. It will be argued that their objection targets an inessential aspect of the fragmentalist framework and fails to raise any serious problem for the fragmentalist interpretation of special relativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is motivated by a question of naturalized epistemology of W. V. Quine and the question is how a naturalistic account gives rise to theoretical understanding with its realistic ontology. I concentrate on the possibility of the principle of reification by way of interpretation and the point is how we interpret interpretation in a naturalistic account. First, we must distinguish between Quine and Carnap based upon the distinction of interpretation versus reduction. Second, we should take seriously the function of observation and the consequent interpretation with regard to reality and ontological understanding. This article also exams the positions of Descartes, Kant and recent philosophers Gadamer and Davidson. In doing so, some test cases of interpretation analyze in particular the case of "anomalous monism". Finally, this paper makes effort to focus on quantum mechanics as an object of naturalistic interpretation, although it is itself a naturalistic interpretation of classical physics and relativity based upon observation of new features of reality. In conclusion, the Yijing philosophy of change is cited as a possible, useful and meaningful interpretation of quantum mechanics just as quantum mechanics could be a useful and meaningful interpretation of the Yijing 's onto-cosmology (which theory I had established two decades ago). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The merging of quantum information science with the relativity theory presents novel opportunities for understanding the enigmas surrounding the transmission of information in relation to black holes. For this purpose, we study the quantumness near a Schwarzschild black hole in a practical model under decoherence. The scenario we consider in this paper is that a stationary particle in the flat region interacts with its surroundings while another particle experiences free fall in the vicinity of a Schwarzschild black hole's event horizon. We explore the impacts of Hawking radiation and decoherence on the system under investigation and find that these effects can limit the survival of quantum characteristics, but cannot destroy them completely. Hence, the results of this study possess the potential to yield valuable insights into the comprehension of the quantum properties of a real system operating within a curved space-time framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss formal analogies between a nonlinear Schrödinger equation derived by the author from the theory of scale relativity and the equations of Brownian theory. By using the Madelung transformation, the nonlinear Schrödinger equation takes the form of hydrodynamic equations involving a friction force, an effective thermal pressure, a pressure due to the self-interaction, and a quantum potential. These hydrodynamic equations have a form similar to the damped Euler equations obtained for self-interacting Brownian particles in the theory of simple liquids. In that case, the temperature is due to thermal motion and the pressure arises from spatial correlations between the particles. More generally, the correlations can be accounted for by using the dynamical density functional theory. We determine the excess free energy of Brownian particles that reproduces the standard quantum potential. We then consider a more general form of excess free energy functionals and propose a new class of generalized Schrödinger equations. For a certain form of excess free energy, we recover the generalized Schrödinger equation associated with the Tsallis entropy considered in a previous paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physics Essays is the property of Physics Essays Publication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, I propose a new research programme, the ' General Theory (GT) 4.0', aimed at restoring the academic influence of Keynes, against many contemporary misunderstandings, by defending his view that macroeconomics is an autonomous discipline with respect to standard theory. This paper focuses on two specific, complementary lines of defence. The first is to show that the metaphor of 'Ulysses' journey home' for understanding Keynes, recently proposed in the literature, provides an intuitive, plastic representation of his major autonomy claims. The second is to suggest that such claims are not ad hoc, but in tune with the postulates of a scientific revolutionary paradigm, such as the relativity theory, reflecting the fact that Keynes and Einstein—despite obvious differences in their respective domains—shared the same ontology, the metaphysical world view of time and epistemology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, it is argued that there exist different interdisciplinary abductive analogies between Keynes' monetary-production theory and Einstein's theories of relativity. Based on some of the equations in Einstein's special theory of relativity vis-à-vis the fundamental equation describing the equilibrium condition in Keynes' model version of a realistic entrepreneur economy—a complementary scheme to an algebraic-topological interpretation of Keynes' vision is outlined within the Post Keynesian scientific research programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physics Essays is the property of Physics Essays Publication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

David Chalmers has recently argued that Relativity Theory supports the notion that shapes are Twin-Earthable. In this paper this argument is challenged. I reconstruct the argument in five steps where the last step is the conclusion. I proceed to argue that one step in the argument can be interpreted in two different ways. The problem is that on the first interpretation of the step, the conclusion does not follow. And on the second interpretation of the step, it contradicts a previous step in the argument. I conclude that Relativity Theory does not entail that phenomenal and functional twins could represent different shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of special relativity is a topic not addressed in theoretical chemistry courses. Einstein's theory of relativity is mainly applied to high‐energy phenomena governed by physical laws not used to describe the chemical bond. Nevertheless, the electrons of heavy elements orbit around the nucleus with relativistic velocities. Here it is, then, the laws that appeared so unusual for chemistry became fundamental tools for investigating the properties of these atoms. Studying the electronic structure of heavy elements is the best place for chemists to learn to tame the pitfalls of a little‐known subject, such as Einstein's theory, and become familiar with its elegant formalism. In this paper, the main relativistic approaches to quantum chemistry are revisited. The problem of the finite nuclear size, the approximation methods used to solve the relativistic equations for k‐shell electrons, and the problem of the negative energy continuum are investigated. Some ansatzes to solve divergence's problem of relativistic corrections near the nucleus are proposed. Finally, a possible connection between the self‐consistent field method and bondonic chemistry is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physics Essays is the property of Physics Essays Publication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The class of warped product metrics can often be interpreted as key space models for the general theory of relativity and theory of space-time. In this paper, we first obtain the PDE characterization of Finsler warped product metrics with a vanishing Riemannian curvature. Moreover, we obtain equivalent conditions for locally Minkowski Finsler warped product spaces. Finally, we explicitly construct two types of non-Riemannian examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The class of warped product metrics can often be interpreted as key space models for the general theory of relativity and theory of space–time. In this paper, we study several non-Riemannian quantities in Finsler geometry. These non-Riemannian quantities play an important role in understanding the geometric properties of Finsler metrics. In particular, we find differential equations of Finsler warped product metrics with vanishing χ -curvature or vanishing H-curvature. Furthermore, we show that, for Finsler warped product metrics, the χ -curvature vanishes if and only if the H-curvature vanishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Velocity reciprocity and the relativity principle Patrick Moylan B 90 b (2), p. 126 https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0009219 Velocity reciprocity is the property that pairs of inertial reference frames will measure each other to have equal and opposite relative velocities. This paper analyses the group-theoretic foundations of relativity theory to explore what additional assumptions must be made for velocity reciprocity to hold, and also explores the misconception that velocity reciprocity follows from the relativity of motion principle. Exploring complex pattern formation with convolutional neural networks Christian Scholz and Sandy Scholz B 90 b (2), p. 141 https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0065458 Machine learning is becoming more and more important in the analysis of data in many fields including physics. [Extracted from the article]

The theory of relativity was introduced to the world by Einstein and revolutionized cosmology and how people thought about space, time, mass and energy. The purpose of the present paper is to introduce Einstein's theory as a mechanism for further tourism experiential examination. It is anticipated that the lenses used to provide different perspectives, would be of great use by the social academic community. While presenting as a paradigm the case of experiential tourism, this paper aims to trigger researchers' inquisitiveness of how this avant-garde theory can be further incorporated within the field of social sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annual Review of the Faculty of Philosophy / Godisnjak Filozofskog Fakulteta is the property of Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Planck's pioneering contributions to special relativity have received less consideration than one might expect in the historiography and philosophy of physics. Although they are celebrated in isolation, they are mostly not understood as integral to an overarching project. This paper aims (a) to provide a historically accurate overview of Planck's contributions to the early history of relativity that is reasonably accessible to today's reader, (b) to demonstrate how these contributions can be presented against the background of Planck's 'Helmholtzian' vision of relativistic general dynamics based on the principle of relativity and principle of least action, and (c) to argue that Planck's general dynamics serves as an illuminating example of the use of 'principles' in physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physics Essays is the property of Physics Essays Publication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the Albert Einstein and Jules-Henri Poincaré connection and its discontents. In this paper, the author develops the Einstein-Poincaré connection is largely a scientific memorial reconstruction dating from the mid-1950s, revived on the occasion of the celebration in 1994 of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the École Polytechnique, and culminating with the 150th anniversary of Poincaré's birth in 2004 and the 2005 World Year of Physics. He proposes to solve the mystery of the Einstein-Poincaré connection by showing that the physics community never hesitated between Einstein and Poincaré when it dealt with questions related to relativity.

I discuss the early work of Enrico Fermi (1901-1954) as a student in Pisa at the Scuola Normale Superiore and at the University of Pisa (1918-1922), paying particular attention to the four papers he published during those years and to his licenza and doctoral theses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edmund T. Whittaker's second edition of his A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity is famous for his treatment of Einstein as an almost irrelevant character in the emergence of what he called "the relativity theory of Poincaré and Lorentz." Historians of science have given a number of explanations, which include Whittaker's scientific conservatism as an old classical physicist, his commitment to the ether, the pre-eminent role he attributed to mathematics over physics, and foundational philosophical disagreements, to name a few. And in the background, often more implicit than forthright, the accusation of antisemitism looms over Whittaker. In this paper I intend to shed new light on this controversy by taking into consideration the abundant correspondence between Whittaker and his son preserved in the archives of the Fisher Library, University of Toronto. With it, we will get a more complex and personal view of the context in which his attempt at dethroning Einstein took place. Together with the abovementioned reasons, this correspondence shows that the problematic status quo of general relativity in the early 1950s, a period that has been described as the low-mark of general relativity, was very influential in the historical treatment he gave to Einstein. This is an aspect hardly mentioned in the historical work on this controversy and, from this correspondence, it appears to be central to understanding Whittaker at the time of drafting the new History. His possible antisemitic bias will also be addressed, though with the insufficient information on this subject the matter cannot be settled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the inclusion of "fields" in speculative realist ontologies better explains human experience, encourages the inclusion of systems thinking, and avoids some of the unusual conclusions speculative realists currently accept. The paper begins by summarizing the philosophies of Quentin Meillassoux and Graham Harman, as well as major criticisms of each. Second, it explores the "math as structure" theories of Stewart Shapiro and Michael Resnik, and the ways relativity and quantum physics account for objects. Using these ideas, the paper argues that Meillassoux's reference to math and Harman's account of objects are insufficient without including a concept of "fields." Third, the paper defines a concept of "field" and discusses how it can be applied to speculative realism. Finally, the paper shows how incorporating the concept of "fields" allows speculative realism to answer critics more effectively by showing how transcendental structures are embedded in reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts to establish a dialogue between the natural sciences and theology were made in the 20th century along with, among other things, the arrival of new groundbreaking theories in physics, but these attempts met with many content-related and methodological challenges. Philosophy, which plays an essential role as an intermediary in this relationship, has often proven to be a significant obstacle. The failure of neo-Thomism's reception to Einstein's theory in Poland led the Polish cosmologist, philosopher, and theologian Michael Heller to introduce the concept of philosophy in science as a possible basis for dialogue. It proved fruitful, and years later, Heller was awarded the Templeton Prize for building bridges between science and theology. As it later transpired, the notion of philosophy in science has considerable intellectual potential for enriching the dialogue between natural sciences and theology. This article briefly discusses some examples of how the theory of relativity was received by some Polish neo-Thomists. Furthermore, the paper presents the sources of inspiration for Heller's approach and the benefits it offers. Finally, another project that he named the theology of science is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reprint of the article "A Little Reminiscence," by A. K. Raychaudhuri which appeared in the "Proceedings of the Symposium on the Fortieth Anniversary of the Raychaudhuri Equation" is presented. The author comments on the theory of relativity of physicist Albert Einstein cited in the book "Introduction to the Theory of Relativity." He expresses views on the singularity in theory of relativity. The periodical "Physical Review" decided to print his paper on the existence of astrophysical slant.

The paper focuses on the role of relativistic ideas in Wittgenstein's philosophy. In particular, it focuses on On Certainty (1969), where in (305), Wittgenstein explicitly invokes Einstein's theory of relativity: "Here once more there is needed a step like the one taken in relativity theory." The aim of the paper is to establish a connection between Wittgenstein and Einstein that is both theoretically and exegetically sound. In particular, the paper argues that Wittgenstein's reaction to scepticism closely resembles Einstein's reaction to the ether. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors discuss the theory of pure gravitational radiation and field equations of the general theory of relativity II. Topics discussed are the classification of conformal curvature using spinor techniques, the propagation of gravitational and electromagnetic radiation and Newman-Penrose (NP) technique of geometry. Other topics include several mathematical theorems, the propagation of electromagnetic and vacuum gravitational fields and tensor equations.

The aim of the paper is to demonstrate that Special Relativity and the Early Quantum Theory were created within the same programme of statistical mechanics, thermodynamics and maxwellian electrodynamics reconciliation. I shall try to explain why classical mechanics and classical electrodynamics were ``refuted'' almost simultaneously or, in more suitable terms for the present congress, why did the quantum revolution and the relativistic one both took place at the beginning of the 20-th century. I shall argue that the quantum and relativistic revolutions were simultaneous since they had a common origin -- the clash between the fundamental theories of the second half of the 19-th century that constituted the ``body'' of Classical Physics. The revolution's most dramatic point was Einstein's 1905 photon paper that laid the foundations of both Special Relativity and Old Quantum Theory. Hence the dialectic of the old theories is crucial for theory change. Modern physics began with Einstein's reconciliation of electrodynamics, mechanics and thermodynamics in 1905 and his unification of Special Relativity and Newtonian Theory of Gravity. Or, in a more general social context: progressive scientific change can be described not in Weberian terms of zweckrational action forcing out all the other forms of action only but in terms of Habermas's communicative rationality encouraging the establishment of mutual understanding between the various scientific communities also. Einstein's programme constituted a progressive step with respect to its rivals not because it could explain more ``facts'' or was more ``mathematical''. It was better than its rivals because it constituted a basis of communication and interpenetration between three main paradigms of 19-th century physics. Of course in the long run it resulted in empirical successes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]