David, Rey (2012) Similarity Assessments, Spacetime, and the Gravitational Field: What Does the Metric Tensor Represent in General Relativity? In: UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

In this paper I explore the dialectics underlying the choice between a geometrical and a field interpretation of the metric tensor gab in general relativity. My aim is to examine the role of a specific type of reasoning process (which I call ‘similarity-based reasoning’) in interpreting gab. In recent years, philosophers of physics have claimed that the problem of choosing between the two interpretations in question is somehow insubstantial. This appearance of insubstantiality, I contend, stems from a basic form of underdetermination that affects the concepts of spacetime and physical field in the context of general relativity.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID David, Rey dareys@gmail.com
Keywords:	general relativity, metric tensor, similarity-based reasoning
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > Structure of Theories
Depositing User:	Mr. David Rey
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2013 13:00
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2013 13:00
Item ID:	9615
Official URL:	http://www.ub.edu/grc_logos/david-rey
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > Structure of Theories
Date:	December 2012
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9615

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