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Are Maxwell gravitation and Newton-Cartan theory theoretically equivalent?

March, Eleanor (2023) Are Maxwell gravitation and Newton-Cartan theory theoretically equivalent? [Preprint]

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Abstract

A recent flurry of work has addressed the question whether Maxwell gravitation and Newton-Cartan theory are theoretically equivalent. This paper defends the view that there are plausible interpretations of Newton-Cartan theory on which the answer to the above question is "yes". Along the way, I seek to clarify what is at issue in this debate. In particular, I argue that whether Maxwell gravitation and Newton-Cartan theory are equivalent has nothing to do with counterfactuals about unactualised matter, contra the appearance of previous discussions in the literature. Nor does it have anything to do with spacetime and dynamical symmetries, pace recent claims by Jacobs (2023). Instead, it depends on some rather subtle questions concerning how facts about the geodesics of a connection acquire physical significance, and the distinction between dynamical and kinematic possibility.

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Item Type: Preprint
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March, Eleanoreleanor.march@balliol.ox.ac.uk
Additional Information: Shortly after uploading an earlier version of this work, I was made aware of a forthcoming paper by Chen (http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22440) also on the relationship between Maxwell gravitation and Newton-Cartan theory. This is an updated version of my earlier work in light of Chen's paper.
Keywords: Maxwell gravitation, Maxwellian spacetime, Newton-Cartan theory, theoretical equivalence, Newtonian gravitation
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
Depositing User: Eleanor March
Date Deposited: 27 Aug 2023 16:26
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2023 16:26
Item ID: 22453
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
Date: 26 August 2023
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22453

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