more on this theme
|
more from this text
Single Idea 14613
[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 1. Relativity / a. Special relativity
]
Full Idea
Though special relativity does not determine a preferred frame of reference, it does not rule out the possibility of a frame being determined from outside the theory. Perhaps we should prefer a frame where background radiation is equal in all directions.
Gist of Idea
Special relativity won't determine a preferred frame, but we can pick one externally
Source
J.J.C. Smart (The Tenseless Theory of Time [2008], 3)
Book Ref
'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.233
A Reaction
Of course this is a mere philosopher offering the escape clause, and not some Nobel-winning physicist, but I start from the assumption that this idea is plausible, and I am unmoved by the contempt for presentism among relativity geeks.
The
18 ideas
from J.J.C. Smart
17061
|
Explanation of a fact is fitting it into a system of beliefs
[Smart]
|
17062
|
If scientific explanation is causal, that rules out mathematical explanation
[Smart]
|
17063
|
Unlike Newton, Einstein's general theory explains the perihelion of Mercury
[Smart]
|
17070
|
Coherence is consilience, simplicity, analogy, and fitting into a web of belief
[Smart]
|
17072
|
We need comprehensiveness, as well as self-coherence
[Smart]
|
17071
|
An explanation is better if it also explains phenomena from a different field
[Smart]
|
17073
|
I simply reject evidence, if it is totally contrary to my web of belief
[Smart]
|
17074
|
Explanations are bad by fitting badly with a web of beliefs, or fitting well into a bad web
[Smart]
|
17075
|
Scientific explanation tends to reduce things to the unfamiliar (not the familiar)
[Smart]
|
17076
|
Deducing from laws is one possible way to achieve a coherent explanation
[Smart]
|
17077
|
The height of a flagpole could be fixed by its angle of shadow, but that would be very unusual
[Smart]
|
17078
|
Universe expansion explains the red shift, but not vice versa
[Smart]
|
22405
|
Negative utilitarianism implies that the world should be destroyed, to avoid future misery
[Smart]
|
22404
|
Any group interested in ethics must surely have a sentiment of generalised benevolence
[Smart]
|
14611
|
Metaphysics should avoid talk of past, present or future
[Smart]
|
14614
|
The past, present, future and tenses of A-theory are too weird, and should be analysed indexically
[Smart]
|
14613
|
Special relativity won't determine a preferred frame, but we can pick one externally
[Smart]
|
14615
|
If time flows, then 'how fast does it flow?' is a tricky question
[Smart]
|