Einstein.Relativity.and.Absolute.Simultaneity.Dec.2007.pdf

Einstein, Relativity and

Absolute Simultaneity

2005 marked the centenary of one of the most remarkable publications in

the history of science, Albert Einstein’s ‘‘On the Electrodynamics of Moving

Bodies,’’ in which he presented a theory that later came to be known as the

Special Theory of Relativity. This 1905 paper is widely regarded as having

destroyed the classical conceptions of absolute time and space, along with

absolute simultaneity and absolute length, which had reigned in physics

from the times of Galileo and Newton to the dawn of the twentieth century.

As we embark upon a new century, the Special Theory is now 100 years

old, and a great deal has transpired in both philosophy and physics since its

ﬁrst publication. This volume is a timely reappraisal the theory’s central

claims, especially concerning the elimination of absolute time and absolute

simultaneity.

This collection draws together essays by both philosophers and physicists,

and reﬂects the cutting edge of research and thought on the question of

absolute simultaneity. The issues discussed in the book include Aspect’s

conﬁrm of Bell’s theorem, De Broglie-Bohm’s quantum mechanics, the pri-

vileged cosmic time series in a Friedman universe, Lorentz’s ideas and neo-

Lorentzian theory and other relevant issues. Almost all the contributors are

convinced that the received view that simultaneity is not an absolute rela-

tion is not only unwarranted but false, and it is hoped that this collection

will stimulate discussion among both philosophers and physicists concerning

the warrant for and problems with assertions of the relativity of simultaneity

on the basis of Einstein’s theory.

William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of

Theology, USA.

Quentin Smith is Professor of Philosophy at Western Michigan University,

USA.

Einstein, Relativity and

Absolute Simultaneity

Edited by William Lane Craig

and Quentin Smith

First published 2008

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RN

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2007.

“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s

collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa

business

# 2008 William Lane Craig and Quentin Smith, editorial matter and

selection; the contributors, their contributions

reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or

other means, now known or hereafter invented, including

photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval

system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloging in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Einstein, relativity, and absolute simultaneity / edited by William Lane

Craig and Quentin Smith.

p. cm.

1. Relativity (Physics) 2. Special relativity (Physics) 3. Absolute

simultaneity. 4. Space and time. 5. Bell’s theorem. 6. Lorenz

transformation. I. Craig, William Lane. II. Smith, Quentin, 1952-

QC173.585.E35 2006

530.11–dc22

2006015456

ISBN 0-203-70005-8 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN13: 978-0-415-70174-7 (hbk)

ISBN13: 978-0-203-70005-1 (ebk)

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: