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Physical Relativity from a Functionalist Perspective

Knox, Eleanor (2017) Physical Relativity from a Functionalist Perspective. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper looks at the relationship between spacetime functionalism and Harvey Brown’s dynamical relativity. One popular way of reading and extending Brown’s programme in the literature rests on viewing his position as a version of relationism. But a kind of spacetime functionalism extends
the project in a different way, by focussing on the account Brown gives of the role of spacetime in relativistic theories. It is then possible to see this as giving a functional account of the concept of spacetime which may be
applied to theories that go beyond relativity. This paper explores the way in which both the relationist project and the functionalist project relate to Brown’s work, despite being incompatible. Ultimately, these should not be seen as two conflicting readings of Brown, but two different directions in which to take his project.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Knox, Eleanoreleanor.knox@kcl.ac.uk0000-0003-1769-5809
Keywords: spacetime functionalism, dynamical relativity, special relativity, general relativity
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User: Dr Eleanor Knox
Date Deposited: 08 Sep 2017 13:45
Last Modified: 08 Sep 2017 13:45
Item ID: 13405
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date: August 2017
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/13405

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