Malament, David (2009) A Remark About the "Geodesic Principle" in General Relativity. [Preprint]

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Abstract

It is often claimed that the geodesic principle can be recovered as a theorem in general relativity. Indeed, it is claimed that it is a consequence of Einstein's equation (or of the conservation principle that is, itself, a consequence of that equation). These claims are certainly correct, but it may be worth drawing attention to one small qualification. Though the geodesic principle can be recovered as theorem in general relativity, it is not a consequence of Einstein's equation (or the conservation principle) alone. Other assumptions are needed to drive the theorems in question. One needs to put more in if one is to get the geodesic principle out. My goal in this short note is to make this claim precise (i.e., that other assumptions are needed).

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Malament, David
Keywords:	relativity theory; geodesic principle
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User:	David B. Malament
Date Deposited:	27 Dec 2009
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:19
Item ID:	5072
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date:	December 2009
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5072

Available Versions of this Item

• On the Status of the "Geodesic Law" in General Relativity. (deposited 23 Sep 2009)
  • A Remark About the "Geodesic Principle" in General Relativity. (deposited 27 Dec 2009) [Currently Displayed]

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