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Absolute Velocities Are Unmeasurable: Response to Middleton and Murgueitio Ramírez

Jacobs, Caspar (2020) Absolute Velocities Are Unmeasurable: Response to Middleton and Murgueitio Ramírez. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In this journal, Middleton and Murgueitio Ramírez argue that absolute velocity is measurable, contrary to the received wisdom. Specifically, they claim that 'there exists at least one reasonable analysis of measurement according to which the speedometer in [a world called 'the Basic World'] measures the absolute velocity of the car'. In this note I critically respond to this claim: the analysis of measurement that Middleton and Murgueitio Ramírez propose is neither reasonable, nor does it entail that absolute velocities are measurable.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Jacobs, Casparcaspar.jacobs@philosophy.ox.ac.uk
Keywords: absolute velocity, measurement, symmetries, Newtonian mechanics
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User: Caspar Jacobs
Date Deposited: 08 Nov 2020 15:11
Last Modified: 08 Nov 2020 15:11
Item ID: 18358
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date: 2020
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18358

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