The Shape of Space was initially published in the 70s.
For a concise update see:
Concepts of Space : the history of theories of space in Physics, Max
Jammer, Dover. Third enlarged edition 1993. Fist published in 1954
It includes the discussion of Nerlich argument and it seems that the 300
years discussion between relational space and absolute space is not over
yet.
_______________________________
Alain Chiaradia
_______________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: On Behalf Of Alan Penn
Sent: 24 July 2004 21:25
To:
Subject: Re: Configurational Analysis: application to 'real
> But if you think you are measuring features of the aether then it
looks
> like Voodoo Science (to borrow Robert Park's useful term)
Tom - if you are any doubt about the reality of space you should read
The shape of space by Graham Nerlich for a simple and cogent defence of
realism
. Publisher: Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, C1994.
. ISBN: 0521450144 0521456452
You don't have to propose the existence of an aether to talk about space
as
real. In fact the aether is proposed by those who cannot allow the
reality
of space itself and want to propose that there must be 'something'
there.
After Einstein this pretty much ceases to be a discussion. Space is real
and
has shape as required by the general theory of relativity. But this is
not
an aether...
Alan
|