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Nothing Matters

Shi, Shelly Yiran (2025) Nothing Matters. In: UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

One challenge to relationism in general relativity is that the metric field is underdetermined by the stress-energy tensor. This is manifested in the existence of distinct vacuum solutions to Einstein's equations. In this paper, I reformulate the problem of underdetermination as a problem from vacuum solutions. I call this the vacuum challenge and identify the gravitational degrees of freedom (associated with the Weyl tensor) as the "source" of the challenge. The Weyl tensor allows for gravitational effects that something outside of a system exerts on the system. I provide a relationist response to the vacuum challenge.


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Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Shi, Shelly Yiran0009-0003-4496-6392
Keywords: Mach's principle, relationism, general relativity, vacuum solution
Subjects: General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User: Ms. Shelly Yiran Shi
Date Deposited: 07 May 2025 12:28
Last Modified: 07 May 2025 12:28
Item ID: 24614
Subjects: General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date: 2025
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24614

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