Abstract
To the best of my knowledge, it can safely be argued that the majority of recent studies on the foundational difficulties of quantum physics start from the assumptions that the conceptual foundations of classical physics and relativity theory are clear and unproblematic and the present problems should concern only quantum physics. Yet, a simple inquiry into the literature and especially into Einstein’s epistemological writings shows that, contrary to the view of a supposedly well-founded classical physics and relativity, important foundational problems in these sciences are still in need of further analysis.1 The belief that the only foundational difficulties belong to quantum physics (henceforth QP), as if they alone existed against an ideal unproblematic background of classical physics (henceforth CP) and relativity theories (RR), results in a limited approach in examining the historical documents.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
Remarkably, recent historical-epistemological studies on the foundation problems of quantum physics have adopted this viewpoint (Cattaneo & Rossi, [1991]).
This conceptual ambiguity can be interpreted as an example of “concepts in flux” (Elkana [1970]).
Bridgman [1959] 335 ff.
Einstein [1949] b) 679.
Jammer [1966] 198. Quoted from the Archive for History of Quantum Physics, [1963].
Einstein [1923] 482.
Einstein [1923] 483.
Born [1909].
Maltese & Orlando [1994].
Einstein [1923] 485, 489.
Einstein [1923] 487.
Einstein [1934] 307–08.
Einstein [1934] 307.
Einstein. [1950] 63–65.
D’Agostino & Orlando [1994].
Einstein [1950] 64.
Einstein [1950] 81.
D’Agostino & Orlando [1994])
Einstein [1923] 484.
Levi-Civita [1917].
Janssen [1988] 351.
Einstein [1918] 480; Vizkin [1986] 303.
Einstein [1923] 483.
Einstein [1950] 94.
Bergia [1991].
Einstein [1949] b.
Einstein [1949] b, 677 ff.
Einstein [1949] b, 678.
Einstein [1949] b, 680.
Einstein [1959] c, 59.
In my view, a four dimensional non-affine theory does not introduce electromagnetic fields.
Einstein [1959] b, 685.
Einstein [1959] c, 59.
Fine [1986]; Howard [1989]; Howard [1990].
Holton [1973] 246.
Planck [1931] 15–17; Holton [1973] 244–245.
Einstein, Introduction to Planck [1931] b; Holton [1973] 244.
Vizgin [1986] 310.
Vizgin [1986] 309.
Given this situation, it is understandable that Einstein considered the meaning problem as central. Its solution would have helped to provide the geometrised UFT with a more acceptable physical basis (Vizgin [1987] 39).
Vizgin [1986] 309.
Chevalley [1989] a.
Chevalley [1989] b; Chevalley [1993].
Miller [1996] 215.
Miller [1996] 46.
Chevalley [1989] b), 151.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
D’Agostino, S. (2000). Einstein’s Life-Long Doubts on the Physical Foundations of the General Relativity and Unified Field Theories. In: A History of the Ideas of Theoretical Physics. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 213. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9034-6_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9034-6_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-0244-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-010-9034-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive