Chen, Lu and Read, James (2023) Is the metric signature really electromagnetic in origin? [Preprint]
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Abstract
The programme of `pre-metric electromagnetism', developed by Hehl and collaborators, seeks to derive certain aspects of the spacetime geometry of the world (in particular, metrical signature) from elementary, empirically-informed axioms regarding electromagnetic fields. The programme should, therefore, be of profound interest to both empiricist and relationalist philosophers. Up to this point, however, pre-metric electromagnetism has received very little attention within the philosophy of physics; this paper seeks to rectify the situation, by engaging in a detailed foundational study of the programme. In particular, in this article, we (a) present a streamlined version of the programme, identifying key input assumptions, (b) consider the connections between this programme and other notable projects in the foundations of spacetime theories, e.g. (i) the dynamical approach to spacetime and (ii) constructive axiomatics, and (c) consider in detail the extent to which this programme can be generalised beyond electromagnetism. In achieving these tasks, we hope to open up to philosophers an extraordinarily fecund---but lamentably little-known!---project within the foundations of physics.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Additional Information: | Forthcoming in Philosophy of Physics. | |||||||||
| Keywords: | Electromagnetism, Yang-Mills theory, axiomatics, metric signature, dynamical relativity, functionalism | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. James Read | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 10 Oct 2023 19:48 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 10 Oct 2023 19:48 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 22646 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances |
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| Date: | 12 September 2023 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22646 |
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Is the metric signature really electromagnetic in origin? (deposited 12 Sep 2023 20:00)
- Is the metric signature really electromagnetic in origin? (deposited 10 Oct 2023 19:48) [Currently Displayed]
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