Norton, John D. (2024) Einstein Against Singularities: Analysis versus Geometry. Philosophy of Physics 2(1): 13, 1–73., 2 (1). pp. 1-73.

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Abstract

Einstein identified singularities in spacetimes, such as at the Schwarzschild radius, where later relativists only find a coordinate system assigning multiple values to a single spacetime event. These differing judgments derive from differences in mathematical methods. Later relativists employ geometrical structures to correct anomalies in the coordinate systems used in analytic expressions. Einstein took the analytic expressions to be primary and the geometrical structures as mere heuristics that could be overruled if physical assumptions required it. Einstein’s non-geometric methods had a firm base in the history of mathematical methods. They continued the non-geometric orientation of Christoffel, Ricci and LeviCivita. Einstein’s insistence that singularities must be eliminated marked a departure from earlier tolerance of singularities. It was founded upon his longterm project of eliminating arbitrariness from fundamental physical theories. However, Einstein was willing to theorize with singularities only temporarily if they were the least arbitrary approach then available.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Norton, John D. jdnorton@pitt.edu 0000-0003-0936-5308
Additional Information:	The correction to the published pdf is the title Section 10.2 is corrected from "Einstein's Against..." to "Einstein Against..."
Keywords:	black hole, de Sitter, Einstein, Schwarzschild, singularity, spacetime
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Science Case Studies Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User:	John Norton
Date Deposited:	07 Aug 2024 15:41
Last Modified:	07 Aug 2024 15:41
Item ID:	23772
Journal or Publication Title:	Philosophy of Physics 2(1): 13, 1–73.
Publisher:	LSE Press
Official URL:	https://philosophyofphysics.lse.ac.uk/articles/10....
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.31389/pop.91
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Science Case Studies Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date:	29 July 2024
Page Range:	pp. 1-73
Volume:	2
Number:	1
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23772

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