Abstract
Unification of physical theories is an ambiguous idea. Gravitation is perhaps distinct from “other” interactions. Arguments for a unification can be found, either from an analysis of the nature of time, or from the canonicity of most formalisms used in physics. Space-time continuum requires a physics of fields, but not necessarily of quantized fields. Various notions of space as used in physics show that these spaces—including Newtonian space—are never real spaces, but inventions of the mind not only useful, but necessary for the development of many physical theories. Time is, on the other hand, real.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. Mercier,Leçons sur les Principes de l'Electrodynamique Classique (Editions du Griffon, Neuchâtel, 1952), Ch. 7.
A. Mercier,Principes de Mécanique Analytique (Gauthier-Villars, Paris, 1955), Ch. 2; A. Mercier,Analytical and Canonical Formalism in Physics (Dover Publications, New York, 1963), republication of 1959 edition, Ch. 6.
N. Bohr, Newton's principles and modern atomic mechanics, inNewton's Tercentenary Celebrations (Cambridge University Press, London, 1947), pp. 56ff, esp. p. 60, lines 14 and 15.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mercier, A. Thoughts on the dynamics of foundations, or what I believe. Found Phys 1, 285–292 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708613
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708613