Kashyap, Abhishek (2023) General Relativity, MOND, and the problem of unconceived alternatives. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Observational discrepancies in galactic rotation curves and cluster dispersion data have been interpreted to imply the existence of dark matter. Numerous efforts at its detection, however, have failed to turn up any positive result. As a dynamical theory is always operative on the assumed mass distribution to predict kinematic observations, some scientists see the discrepancy as telling against General Relativity. Among the many theories that seek to modify gravity, those that are built on Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) or yield MOND behaviour at appropriate scales achieve remarkable empirical success without assuming dark matter. The continued non-detection of dark matter and the empirical success of MOND supports the claim that the current evidential and theoretical context underdetermines General Relativity. In this article, I clarify the kind of underdetermination that can be said to threaten General Relativity. Specifically, I argue that the present evidential and theoretical context increase the possibility of an unconceived alternative to GR which would be just as well supported by the available evidence.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Kashyap, Abhishek kshyp.abhshk@gmail.com 0000-0003-3104-6311
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory/Observation
Depositing User:	Abhishek Kashyap
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2023 13:44
Last Modified:	05 Jun 2023 13:44
Item ID:	22189
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory/Observation
Date:	29 May 2023
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22189

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