The Discovery of Dynamics: A Study from a Machian Point of View of the Discovery and the Structure of Dynamical TheoriesEver since Newton created dynamics, there has been controversy about its foundations. Are space and time absolute? Do they form a rigid but invisible framework and container of the universe? Or are space, time, and motion relative? If so, does Newton's 'framework' arise through the influence of the universe at large, as Ernst Mach suggested? Einstein's aim when creating his general theory of relativity was to demonstrate this and thereby implement 'Mach's Principle'. However, it is widely believed that he achieved only partial success. This question of whether motion is absolute or relative has been a central issues in philosophy; the nature of time has perennial interest. Current attempts to create a quantum description of the whole universe keep these issues at the cutting edge of modern research. Written by the world's leading expert on Mach's Principle, The Discovery of Dynamics is a highly original account of the development of notions about space, time, and motion. Widely praised in its hardback version, it is one of the fullest and most readable accounts of the astronomical studies that culminated in Kepler's laws of planetary motion and of the creation of dynamics by Galileo, Descartes, Huygens, and Newton. Originally published as Absolute or Relative Motion?, Vol. 1: The Discovery of Dynamics (Cambridge), The Discovery of Dynamics provides the technical background to Barbour's recently published The End of Time, in which he argues that time disappears from the description of the quantum universe. |
Contents
1 | |
1 Preliminaries | 19 |
first airing of the absoluterelative problem | 60 |
the foundations are laid | 100 |
first stirrings of the scientific revolution | 191 |
the flimsy arch | 209 |
the dominion of the sun | 264 |
the geometrization of motion | 352 |
8 Descartes and the new world | 406 |
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Common terms and phrases
absolute space acceleration actually Almagest angle appears apsides area law Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle's Astronomia Nova astronomy body Brahe Cartesian centre centrifugal force Chap circle circular motion clearly collision concept of motion Copernican Copernicus Copernicus's deferent defined definition Descartes determined Dialogo discovery of dynamics discussion distance diurnal motion earth eccentricity ecliptic effect Einstein ellipse epicycle epicycle-deferent equal equant explain fact frame of reference Galilean invariance Galileo geometry gravity heavens Hipparchus Huygens Ibid idea important inertial motion Kepler kinematic law of inertia laws of motion Mach Mach's Mach's Principle Machian mass mathematical matter means moon move nature Newton Newtonian dynamics observations orbit passage phenomena philosophical physical planetary motions planets position precise Principia principle problem Ptolemaic system Ptolemy Ptolemy's quantity rectilinear relative revolution rotation Scholium significant solar speed sphere stars terrestrial theory things Third Law uniform motion universe velocity