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    Spacetime coordinates lack physical reality — Carmelics
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    Home/Modality & Possibility
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    Spacetime coordinates lack physical reality

    Modality & PossibilityTruth & Knowledge
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Only invariant quantities can be considered physically real
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    • 2.Spacetime coordinates are not invariant under coordinate transformations
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Coordinate systems are real representational tools that encode genuine metrical structure, not mere arbitrary labels.
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    • 2.The distinction between invariant and coordinate-dependent quantities presupposes a background manifold that is itself physically real.
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    • 3.Eliminating coordinates as physically unreal generates an explanatory regress: invariants must be invariant *with respect to something*.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Gauge-dependent quantities in electromagnetism (e.g., the vector potential) causally influence observable outcomes, as demonstrated by the Aharonov-Bohm effect.
      ?

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    • 2.If physically real quantities must be gauge/coordinate invariant, the Aharonov-Bohm effect would be inexplicable, yet it is empirically confirmed.
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    • 3.Therefore, coordinate-dependence alone is insufficient to disqualify a quantity from physical reality.
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    Related

    Coordinate systems are real representational tools that encode genuine metrical ...Eliminating coordinates as physically unreal generates an explanatory regress: i...Gauge-dependent quantities in electromagnetism (e.g., the vector potential) caus...If physically real quantities must be gauge/coordinate invariant, the Aharonov-B...
    +4 moreShow less
    Only invariant quantities can be considered physically realSpacetime coordinates are not invariant under coordinate transformationsThe distinction between invariant and coordinate-dependent quantities presuppose...Therefore, coordinate-dependence alone is insufficient to disqualify a quantity ...

    Similar

    Everyday language cannot accurately convey scientific findings about p...71%Kant aims to avoid the conclusion that spatial representation of empir...69%All attempts by geometers to prove Euclid's Postulate on Parallels hav...69%A coordinate chart cannot suffice to individuate spacetime manifold po...69%

    Source

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    SEP: einstein-philscience
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    Einstein’s new point of view, according to which the physically real consists exclusively in that which can be constructed on the basis of spacetime coincidences, spacetime points, for example, being regarded as intersections of world lines, is now known as the “point-coincidence argument.” Einstein might have been inspired by a paper by the young mathematician Erich Kretschmann (Howard and Norton 1993; cf. Giovanelli 2013) or possibly by a conversation with Schlick (Engler and Renn, 2017). Spac
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    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit