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On the Cartesian Ontology of General Relativity: Or, Conventionalism in the History of the Substantival-Relational Debate.

Using Einstein's comparison of General Relativity and Descartes' physics, this investigation explores the alleged conventionalism that pervades the ontology of substantival and relationist conceptions of spacetime. Although previously discussed, namely by Rynasiewicz and Hoefer, it will be argued th...

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Published in:Philosophy of Science Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 1312 - 1324
Main Author: Slowik, Edward
Format: Article
Published: Cambridge University Press Dec2005
Subjects:
Spacetime
Metaphysics
Relativity (Physics)
Ontology
Relation (Philosophy)
Philosophy of science
Philosophy & science
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:Using Einstein's comparison of General Relativity and Descartes' physics, this investigation explores the alleged conventionalism that pervades the ontology of substantival and relationist conceptions of spacetime. Although previously discussed, namely by Rynasiewicz and Hoefer, it will be argued that the close similarities between General Relativity and Cartesian physics have not been adequately treated in the literature--and that the disclosure of these similarities bolsters the case for a conventionalist interpretation of spacetime ontology.