Szabo, Laszlo E. (2010) Lorentzian theories vs. Einsteinian special relativity - a logico-empiricist reconstruction. [Preprint]

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Abstract

It is widely believed that the principal difference between Einstein's special relativity and its contemporary rival Lorentz-type theories was that while the Lorentz-type theories were also capable of “explaining away” the null result of the Michelson-Morley experiment and other experimental findings by means of the distortions of moving measuring-rods and moving clocks, special relativity revealed more fundamental new facts about the geometry of space-time behind these phenomena. I shall argue that special relativity tells us nothing new about the geometry of space-time, in comparison with the pre-relativistic Galileo-invariant conceptions; it simply calls something else "space-time", and this something else has different properties. All statements of special relativity about those features of reality that correspond to the original meaning of the terms "space" and "time" are identical with the corresponding traditional pre-relativistic statements. It will be also argued that special relativity and Lorentz theory are completely identical in both senses, as theories about space-time and as theories about the behavior of moving physical objects.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Szabo, Laszlo E.
Additional Information:	Forthcomming in A. Maté, M. Rédei and F. Stadler (eds.), Vienna Circle and Hungary - Veröffentlichungen des Instituts Wiener Kreis, Springer.
Keywords:	Lorentz theory, special relativity, space, time, relativity principle, Lorentz's principle, operationalism, conventionalism, privileged reference frame
Subjects:	General Issues > Theory/Observation Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Operationalism/Instrumentalism General Issues > Conventionalism General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism
Depositing User:	Prof. Laszlo E. Szabo
Date Deposited:	08 May 2010
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:19
Item ID:	5339
Subjects:	General Issues > Theory/Observation Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Operationalism/Instrumentalism General Issues > Conventionalism General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism
Date:	May 2010
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5339

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