Issues

 / 

1979

 / 

July

  

To the centenary of A. Einstein


Einstein: the creation of the theory of relativity and some gnosiological lessons

Some characteristic methods that Einstein used to analyze the problems of the electrodynamics of moving bodies are discussed. Einstein rejected the method of ``accumulation of hypotheses'', reevaluated the results of electrodynamic experiments, generalized them in the form of the relativity principle, interpreted this as a law of nature, and, significantly, made it the point of departure of a new theory--the special theory of relativity. It is shown that Einstein gave great importance to generalizing the results of experiments and the part played by theory, in which nature is regarded as an integral whole; for Einstein, all the variable parameters used in a theory are interconnected and interdependent; this also applies to space and time, which lose their substantiality and, thus, absoluteness. It is pointed out that it was only the realization that the metric expresses the laws of physical interconnection that made possible the formulation of the general theory of relativity. Einstein's negative position with respect to the conventionalism of Poincare and Reichenbach, in particular the interpretation of geometry as a conventionally chosen method of describing experience independent of physical interconnections, is discussed. In connection with the criticism of conventionalism, consideration is given to descriptions of one and the same experiment that have different forms, and it is shown that some of these descriptions merely represent formal transformations that do not reveal new connections in nature whereas others give the same results only at a definite stage of understanding, their subsequent development however revealing that they correspond to different levels of penetration into the essence of the phenomena.

Fulltext pdf (3.2 MB)
Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.1070/PU1979v022n07ABEH005584
PACS: 04.20.Cv, 01.60.+q (all)
DOI: 10.1070/PU1979v022n07ABEH005584
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1979/7/c/
Citation: Suvorov S G "Einstein: the creation of the theory of relativity and some gnosiological lessons" Sov. Phys. Usp. 22 528–554 (1979)
BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks

Оригинал: Суворов С Г «Эйнштейн: становление теории относительности и некоторые гносеологические уроки» УФН 128 459–501 (1979); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0128.197907c.0459

A. Einstein is author of Physics-Uspekhi

Cited by (2) Similar articles (20) ↓

  1. V.P. Vizgin, Ya.A. Smorodinskii “From the equivalence principle to the equations of gravitation22 489–513 (1979)
  2. M.A. El’yashevich “Einstein’s part in the development of quantum concepts22 555–575 (1979)
  3. V.Ya. Frenkel’ “On the history of the Einstein-de Haas effect22 580–587 (1979)
  4. N.V. Karlov, A.M. Prokhorov “Quantum electronics and Einstein’s theory of radiation22 576–579 (1979)
  5. N.A. Kaptsov “Petr Nikolaevich Lebedev and the training of research scientists5 625–628 (1963)
  6. V.L. Ginzburg “Experimental verification of the general theory of relativity22 514–527 (1979)
  7. V.V. Migulin “L. I. Mandel’shtam and research in radiointerferometry22 640–647 (1979)
  8. For the centenary of L. I. Mandel’shtam22 589–589 (1979)
  9. 100th anniversary of the birth of S. I. Vavilov34 (3) 215–216 (1991)
  10. P.P. Feofilov “The contribution of academician S. I. Vavilov to the study of light10 1–5 (1967)
  11. I.E. Tamm “Characteristic features of the work of Leonid Isaakovich Mandel'shtam8 633–636 (1966)
  12. E.M. Lifshitz “Petr Leonidovich Kapitza37 1167–1169 (1994)
  13. M.S. Aksenteva “Olli Lounasmaa — the first laureate of the P L Kapitza Gold Medal37 1171–1172 (1994)
  14. A.S. Borovik-Romanov “Life and scientific work of P L Kapitza37 1159–1166 (1994)
  15. V.E. Golant “Ya I Frenkel’ — man, scientist, teacher37 323–323 (1994)
  16. M.S. Aksenteva “Igor’ Evgen’evich Tamm (1895-1971)38 686–686 (1995)
  17. On the fiftieth anniversary of the death of P. N. Lebedev5 616–616 (1963)
  18. P.P. Lazarev “MY RECOLLECTIONS OF P. N. LEBEDEV5 617–624 (1963)
  19. A.N. Nesmeyanov “S.I. Vavilov—Eminent scientist and leader of soviet science4 725–729 (1962)
  20. V.L. Levshin “The development of S. I. Vavilov’s ideas in the field of luminescence4 747–753 (1962)

The list is formed automatically.

© 1918–2024 Uspekhi Fizicheskikh Nauk
Email: ufn@ufn.ru Editorial office contacts About the journal Terms and conditions