Leibnizian relationalism for general relativistic physics

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2016.08.006zbMATH Open1348.83020arXiv1608.07257OpenAlexW3100392423WikidataQ62041230 ScholiaQ62041230MaRDI QIDQ333955FDOQ333955

Authors: Antonio Vassallo, Michael Esfeld 

Publication date: 31 October 2016

Published in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Part B. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: An ontology of Leibnizian relationalism, consisting in distance relations among sparse matter points and their change only, is well recognized as a serious option in the context of classical mechanics. In this paper, we investigate how this ontology fares when it comes to general relativistic physics. Using a Humean strategy, we regard the gravitational field as a means to represent the overall change in the distance relations among point particles in a way that achieves the best combination of being simple and being informative.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1608.07257

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zbMATH Keywords

gravitydualitygeneral relativityhumeanismLeibnizian relationalismshape dynamics

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Physics (00A79) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Axiomatics, foundations (70A05)

Cites Work

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Cited In (4)

• Does general relativity highlight necessary connections in nature?
• Loop quantum gravity: a new threat to humeanism? I: The problem of spacetime
• On the argument from physics and general relativity
• Super-Humeanism: a starving ontology

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