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Philosophy of Relativity

Lecturer: Dr. Antonio Ferrero, PhD (Utrecht University)

Schedule: July 16 to July 18 (3 classes), all at 10h00 (BRT)/13h00 (UTC). One must attend all 3 classes to receive a certificate.

Workload: 6h

Topics: 1. Newtonian Mechanics: basics of Newtonian mechanics; absolute time, space, and motion; inertial frames and fictitious forces; Newton–Cartan theory. 2. Special Relativity: basics of special relativity; relativity of simultaneity; Bell’s approach; geometrical vs. dynamical. 3. General Relativity: basics of general relativity; coordinate (in)dependence; the equivalence principle; alternative theories.

Pre-requisites: A standard introductory course in general relativity.

Bibliography:

  1. Roberto Torreti. Relativity and Geometry. New York, NY: Dover, 1983.
  2. Harvey R. Brown. Physical Relativity: Space-Time Structure from a Dynamical Perspective. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2007.
  3. Robert DiSalle. Understanding Space-Time: The Philosophical Development of Physics from Newton to Einstein. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
  4. David Malament. Topics in the Foundations of General Relativity and Newtonian Gravitation Theory. Chicago Lectures in Physics. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2012.

Resources