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Full Idea
It is difficult to overplay Einstein's commitment to the concept of causality as the bedrock of physics.
Gist of Idea
Einstein took causation to be the bedrock of physics
Source
report of Albert Einstein (works [1915]) by P Coveney / R Highfield - The Arrow of Time 3 'problem'
Book Ref
Coveney,P/Highfield R: 'The Arrow of Time' [Flamingo 1990], p.105
A Reaction
I normally avoid arguments from authority, but this carries a bit of weight (e.g. when Russell tries to oppose it). What happens to Einstein's theories if you remove causation from them?
Related Idea
Idea 14175 We can drop 'cause', and just make inferences between facts [Russell]
| 7621 | Special relativity, unlike general relativity, was operationalist in spirit [Putnam on Einstein] |
| 21232 | Space-time arises from the connection between measurements of space and of time [Einstein, by Farmelo] |
| 22955 | Einstein took causation to be the bedrock of physics [Einstein, by Coveney/Highfield] |
| 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] |
| 20648 | Mass is a measure of energy content [Einstein] |
| 7626 | I do not believe in a personal God [Einstein] |