Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1 Review of Moritz Schlick's General Theory of Knowledge
- 2 Einstein's Theory of Space
- 3 Reply to H. Dingler's Critique of the Theory of Relativity
- 4 A Report on an Axiomatization of Einstein's Theory of Space-Time
- 5 Reply to Th. Wulf's Objections to the General Theory of Relativity
- 6 Einstein's Theory of Motion
- 7 The Theory of Relativity and Absolute Transport Time
- 8 Reply to Anderson's Objections to the General Theory of Relativity
- 9 Review of Aloys Müller's The Philosophical Problems with Einstein's Theory of Relativity
- 10 The Philosophical Significance of the Theory of Relativity
- 11 Planet Clocks and Einsteinian Simultaneity
- 12 On the Physical Consequences of the Axiomatization of Relativity
- 13 Has the Theory of Relativity Been Refuted?
- 14 Response to a Publication of Mr. Hj. Mellin
- Index
8 - Reply to Anderson's Objections to the General Theory of Relativity
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 November 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1 Review of Moritz Schlick's General Theory of Knowledge
- 2 Einstein's Theory of Space
- 3 Reply to H. Dingler's Critique of the Theory of Relativity
- 4 A Report on an Axiomatization of Einstein's Theory of Space-Time
- 5 Reply to Th. Wulf's Objections to the General Theory of Relativity
- 6 Einstein's Theory of Motion
- 7 The Theory of Relativity and Absolute Transport Time
- 8 Reply to Anderson's Objections to the General Theory of Relativity
- 9 Review of Aloys Müller's The Philosophical Problems with Einstein's Theory of Relativity
- 10 The Philosophical Significance of the Theory of Relativity
- 11 Planet Clocks and Einsteinian Simultaneity
- 12 On the Physical Consequences of the Axiomatization of Relativity
- 13 Has the Theory of Relativity Been Refuted?
- 14 Response to a Publication of Mr. Hj. Mellin
- Index
Summary
In number 5114 of volume 214 of this journal, Mr. Anderson has raised several objections to my reply to Mr. Wulf. I have only now become aware of them, so my response will seem belated. All the same, I do not want to forgo this response because it is important to clarify the basis of this incessant misunderstanding of the theory of relativity.
Anderson admits that the theory of relativity provides a contradiction-free explanation for the “relativistic” perspective of the carousel at rest and the stars rotating with large angular velocity. He believes, however, that the theory becomes flawed when the direction of motion reverses; he contends that it is a coincidence in the relativistic perspective that all stars reverse their direction of motion at the same time. Let me begin by saying that obviously the changes in the directions of motion are contained in the differential equations of the gμν-fields. Further, it is not a matter of chance that the motions of the stars define the celestial axis as a privileged straight line, but rather it is well grounded in the distribution of stellar motions; the same conditions that, from the non-relativistic viewpoint, place the Earth at rest, also determine the distribution of the stars from the relativistic perspective after an appropriate transformation. Hence, this can in no way be called a coincidence.
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- Chapter
- Information
- Defending EinsteinHans Reichenbach's Writings on Space, Time and Motion, pp. 87 - 90Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006