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Full Idea
Einstein's first theory is 'special' because it only deals with observers who move in a straight line at constant speeds with respect to one another.
Gist of Idea
The theory is 'special' because it sticks to observers moving straight, at constant speeds
Source
report of Albert Einstein (works [1915]) by Graham Farmelo - The Strangest Man 03
Book Ref
Farmelo,Graham: 'The Strangest Man [Paul Dirac]' [Faber 2009], p.40
A Reaction
Most theories of this period seem to have focused on the simplest cases, for obvious reasons.
| 7621 | Special relativity, unlike general relativity, was operationalist in spirit [Putnam on Einstein] |
| 22955 | Einstein took causation to be the bedrock of physics [Einstein, by Coveney/Highfield] |
| 20648 | Mass is a measure of energy content [Einstein] |
| 20638 | General relativity assumes laws of nature are the same in all frames of reference [Einstein, by Close] |
| 20636 | Newton is a special case of Einstein's general theory, with an infinite speed of light [Einstein, by Close] |
| 21230 | The theory is 'special' because it sticks to observers moving straight, at constant speeds [Einstein, by Farmelo] |
| 21231 | Assume the speed of light is constant for all observers, and the laws of physics are the same [Einstein, by Farmelo] |
| 20634 | General Relativity says there is no absolute force or acceleration [Einstein, by Close] |
| 21232 | Space-time arises from the connection between measurements of space and of time [Einstein, by Farmelo] |
| 7626 | I do not believe in a personal God [Einstein] |