Einstein, Cassirer, and General Covariance — Then and Now

The Argument Recent archival research has brought about a new understanding of the import of Einstein's puzzling remarks (1916) attributing a physical meaning to general covariance. Debates over the scope and meaning of general covariance still persist, even within physics. But already in 1921 Cassirer identified the significance of general covariance as a novel stage in the development of the criterion of objectivity within physics; an account of this development, and its implications, is the primary task undertaken in his monograph of “epistemological considerations” on the theory of relativity. Cassirer's assessment is correct: general covariance, understood as an injunction against dynamical theories with background elements, is a “limiting heuristic principle” guiding Einstein's fundamental conception of a “complete field theory”; as such, it underlies a “separation principle” built into the conceptual framework of the EPR criticism of quantum mechanics. In conclusion, a further parallel is noted: mutual recognition that the principle of general covariance is but a form of “anthropomorphism.”

Classical mechanics · Covariance · Criticism · Einstein · Epistemology · General covariance · General relativity · Physics · Statistics · Theoretical physics · Law · Mathematics · Philosophy · Philosophy, Science, and History · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Relativity and Gravitational Theory

• Bibliography Relations of Science to Literature and the Arts 1999

  Karl E Gwiasda, Susan Allender-Hagedorn et al.•Configurations•2001

  Incluir item

• The influence of relativity on the philosophy of symbolic forms

  Open Access•Luigi Laino•Man and World•2024

  Incluir item

• Ernst Cassirer and the Structural Conception of Objects in Modern Science

  Open Access•Karol-Nobert Ihmig•Science in Context•1999

  Incluir item

• Substance and function, and Einstein's theory of relativity

  Ernst Cassirer•Substance and function, and…•1923

  Incluir item

• Das Erkenntnisproblem in der Philosophie und Wissenschaft der neueren Zeit, Bd. 1

  Ernst Cassirer•Das Erkenntnisproblem in der…•1906

  Incluir item

• Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?

  Open Access•Albert Einstein, Boris Podolsky et al.•Physical Review D•1935

  Incluir item

• The Unity of Anthropology

  Open Access•B Malinowski•Nature•1923

  Incluir item

• The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

  Ernst Cassirer, Charles W Hendel et al.•The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms•2021

  Incluir item

• The Philosophy Of Symbolic Forms

  Deniz Coskun•Law As Symbolic Form•2007

  Incluir item

• Die Kultur der Gegenwart, ihre Entwicklung und ihre Ziele

  Open Access•W Nowack•Historische Zeitschrift•1907

  Incluir item

• Symmetry Groups, Absolute Objects and Action Principles in General Relativity

  Open Access•Anna Maidens•Studies in History and Philosophy…•1998

  Incluir item

• Conditio sine qua non? Zuordnung in the early epistemologies of Cassirer and Schlick

  Open Access•Thomas Ryckman, T A Ryckman•Synthese•1991

  Incluir item

• Lost in the tensors

  Open Access•John Earman, Clark Glymour•Studies in History and Philosophy…•1978

  Incluir item

• P(oint)-c(oincidence) thinking”

  Open Access•T A Ryckman•Studies in History and Philosophy…•1992

  Incluir item

• Einstein on locality and separability

  Open Access•Don Howard•Studies in History and Philosophy…•1985

  Incluir item

• The Problem of Knowledge

  H R Smart, Ernst Cassirer et al.•The Philosophical Review•1951

  Incluir item

• Space, Time and Gravitation

  H R Smart, A S Eddington•The Philosophical Review•1922

  Incluir item

• Logik der Reinen Erkenntniss

  John Grier Hibben, Hermann Cohen•The Philosophical Review•1904

  Incluir item

• Leibniz' System in seinen Wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen

  A K Rogers, Ernest Cassirer•The Philosophical Review•1903

  Incluir item

• Albert Einstein

  J L Synge•The Journal of Higher Education•1950

  Incluir item

• The Other Einstein

  Open Access•John Stachel•Science in Context•1993

  Incluir item