Coffey, Kevin (2020) On the Ontology of Particle Mass and Energy in Special Relativity. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Einstein claimed that the fundamental dynamical insight of special relativity was the equivalence of mass and energy. I disagree. Not only are mass and energy not equivalent (whatever exactly that means) but talk of such equivalence obscures the real dynamical insight of special relativity, which concerns the nature of 4-forces and interactions more generally. In this paper I present and defend a new ontology of special relativistic particle dynamics that makes this insight perspicuous and I explain how alleged cases of mass--energy conversion can be accommodated within that ontology.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Coffey, Kevin
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in Synthese.
Keywords:	Special relativity, Mass, Energy, Ontology
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User:	Kevin Coffey
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2020 03:11
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2020 03:11
Item ID:	17425
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date:	2020
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/17425

Available Versions of this Item

• On the Ontology of Particle Mass and Energy in Special Relativity. (deposited 19 Feb 2020 01:08)
  • On the Ontology of Particle Mass and Energy in Special Relativity. (deposited 03 Jul 2020 03:11) [Currently Displayed]

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