PhilSci Archive

Leibniz Equivalence, Newton Equivalence, and Substantivalism

Johns, Oliver Davis (2019) Leibniz Equivalence, Newton Equivalence, and Substantivalism. [Preprint]

[img]
Preview
Text
Johns-LNS.pdf - Submitted Version

Download (361kB) | Preview

Abstract

Active diffeomorphisms map a differentiable manifold to itself. They transform manifold points and objects without changing the system of local coordinates used to represent those objects. What has been called Leibniz Equivalence is the assertion that, although active diffeomorphisms do change manifold objects, they do not change what is called the "physical situation" being modeled by those objects. This paper introduces the contrasting idea of Newton Equivalence, which asserts that the different values of manifold objects produced by active diffeomorphisms do model different physical situations. But due to the assumption of general covariance, these different physical situations are all equally possible. They represent physically different situations all of which could happen. This paper compares these two interpretations of active diffeomorphisms, and comments on their importance in the substantivalism debate.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Johns, Oliver Davisojohns@metacosmos.org0000-0003-4251-976X
Keywords: Leibniz Equivalence; Newton Equivalence; Substantivalism; Einstein hole argument; Active diffeomorphisms
Subjects: General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User: Prof. Oliver D. Johns
Date Deposited: 20 Aug 2019 13:51
Last Modified: 20 Aug 2019 13:51
Item ID: 16340
Subjects: General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date: 4 July 2019
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16340

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item