Dieks, Dennis (2005) Another look at general covariance and the equivalence of reference frames. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In his general theory of relativity (GR) Einstein sought to generalize the special-relativistic equivalence of inertial frames to a principle according to which all frames of reference are equivalent. He claimed to have achieved this aim through the general covariance of the equations of GR. There is broad consensus among philosophers of relativity that Einstein was mistaken in this. That equations can be made to look the same in different frames certainly does not imply in general that such frames are physically equivalent. We shall argue, however, that Einstein's position is tenable. The equivalence of arbitrary frames in GR should not be equated with relativity of arbitrary motion, though. There certainly are observable differences between reference frames in GR (differences in the way particles move and fields evolve). The core of our defense of Einstein's position will be to argue that such differences should be seen as fact-like rather than law-like in GR. By contrast, in classical mechanics and in special relativity (SR) the differences between inertial systems and accelerated systems have a law-like status. The fact-like character of the differences between frames in GR justifies regarding them as equivalent in the same sense as inertial frames in SR.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Dieks, Dennis
Additional Information:	To be published in Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
Keywords:	General covariance; equivalence; relativity; reference frames
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User:	Dennis Dieks
Date Deposited:	15 Nov 2005
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:13
Item ID:	2532
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date:	October 2005
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/2532

Available Versions of this Item

• Another Look at the Equivalence of Frames of Reference. (deposited 14 Nov 2005)
  • Another look at general covariance and the equivalence of reference frames. (deposited 15 Nov 2005) [Currently Displayed]

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