Presenting a collection of original essays from a team of international philosophers and physicists, this volume reassesses the contemporary paradigm of the relativistic concept of time. There is no other book like this currently available.
The larger project of which this volume forms part is an attempt to craft a coherent doctrine of divine eternity and God's relationship to time. Central to this project is the integration of the concerns of theology with the concept of time in relativity theory. This volume provides an accessible and philosophically informed examination of the concept of time in relativity, the ultimate aim being the achievement of a tenable theological synthesis.
This book is an exploration into the paradoxical structure of pluralistic thinking as illuminated by both Western and Eastern insights—especially Jainism. By calling into question the most fundamental assumptions of religious pluralists, the author hopes to contribute to a paradigm shift in discourse on religious pluralism and conflicting truth claims.
Philosophical foundations of the physics of space-time This concise book introduces nonphysicists to the core philosophical issues surrounding the nature and structure of space and time, and is also an ideal resource for physicists interested in the conceptual foundations of space-time theory. Tim Maudlin's broad historical overview examines Aristotelian and Newtonian accounts of space and time, and traces how Galileo's conceptions of relativity and space-time led to Einstein's special and general theories of relativity. Maudlin explains special relativity with enough detail to solve concrete physical problems while presenting general relativity in more qualitative terms. Additional topics include the Twins Paradox, the physical aspects of the Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction, the constancy of the speed of light, time travel, the direction of time, and more. Introduces nonphysicists to the philosophical foundations of space-time theory Provides a broad historical overview, from Aristotle to Einstein Explains special relativity geometrically, emphasizing the intrinsic structure of space-time Covers the Twins Paradox, Galilean relativity, time travel, and more Requires only basic algebra and no formal knowledge of physics
This primer brilliantly exposes concepts related to special and general relativity for the absolute beginner. It can be used either as an introduction to the subject at a high school level or as a useful compass for undergraduates who want to move the first steps towards Einstein's theories. The book is enhanced throughout with many useful exercises and beautiful illustrations to aid understanding. The topics covered include: Lorentz transformations, length contraction and time dilation, the twin paradox (and other paradoxes), Minkowski spacetime, the Einstein equivalence principle, curvature of space and spacetime, geodesics, parallel transport, Einstein’s equations of general relativity, black holes, wormholes, cosmology, gravitational waves, time machines, and much more.
Early in this century, it was shown that the new non-Newtonian physics -- known as Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity -- rested on a new, non-Euclidean geometry, which incorporated time and space into a unified "chronogeometric" structure. This high-level study elucidates the motivation and significance of the changes in physical geometry brought about by Einstein, in both the first and the second phase of Relativity. After a discussion of Newtonian principles and 19th-century views on electrodynamics and the aether, the author offers illuminating expositions of Einstein's electrodynamics of moving bodies, Minkowski spacetime, Einstein's quest for a theory of gravity, gravitational geometry, the concept of simultaneity, time and causality and other topics. An important Appendix -- designed to define spacetime curvature -- considers differentiable manifolds, fiber bundles, linear connections and useful formulae. Relativity continues to be a major focus of interest for physicists, mathematicians and philosophers of science. This highly regarded work offers them a rich, "historico-critical" exposition -- emphasizing geometrical ideas -- of the elements of the Special and General Theory of Relativity.
This pilot study (same as "Weltwesen") followed the method of Euclid's "Elements", using 36 Definitions, one single Axiom, 3 Postulates, and their substantiation with analysis-synthesis, induction-deduction, and some representative literature from philosophy, logic, mathematics, physics, biology, and psychology in order to discuss the nature, structure, function, and human as well as nonhuman relevance of the Absolute beyond the 'limits' of the Universe. This interdisciplinary approach resulted in the conclusion that Ultimate Reality is the Absolute, which is the 'source and sink' of all Apparent or Virtual Reality. Having met the required criteria, this tentative theory may be called: "Absolute Relativity and the Relativity of the Absolute".
A journey from the human mind to the outer universe explores such topics as the gravitational effects of the Moon, the future of interstellar space travel, and the incredible Planet X. Reprint.