A discrete geometry: Speculations on a new framework for classical electrodynamics (Q1117486)

This article presents a formulation of classical electrodynamics not in terms of smooth tensor fields on differentiable manifolds, but in terms of discrete partially ordered sets. Essentially, the author revives an approach due to \textit{A. Fokker} [Z. Physik 58, 386-393 (1929)] to the dynamics of charged point particles, which uses a Coulomb-force-like, but relativistically modified, action-at-a-distance. The author compares this theory to standard Maxwell electrodynamics, and speculates about possible implications on general relativity and on quantum mechanics. It is the verbosity of these discussions, together with the author's tendency to reformulate many standard results in some detail, which extends the paper to more than 100 pages.