The Symbolic Universe Geometry and Physics 1890-1930

by Gray, Jeremy J.

• ISBN13: 9780198500889
• ISBN10: 0198500882
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-09-23
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

With the development of the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein, physics underwent a revolution at the end of the 19th century. The boundaries of research were extended still further when in 1907-8 Minkowski applied geometrical ideas to this area of physics. This in turn opened the door toother researchers seeking to use non-Euclidean geometrical methods in relativity, and many notable mathematicians did so, Weyl in particular linking these ideas with broader philosophical issues in mathematics. The Symbolic Universe gives an overview of this exciting era, giving a full account forthe first time of Minkowski's geometric reformulation of the theory of special relativity.

Author Biography

Umberto Bottazzini is currently Research Fellow at the Centro Linceo Interdisciplinare in Rome Leo Corry teaches History of Science at Tel Aviv University Jeremy Gray is a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at the Open University and an Associated Research Fellow of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University Jesper Lutzen is Docent in the History of the Exact Sciences at the University of Copenhagen Arthur I. Miller is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, and Head of Department in the Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London John D. Norton is a Professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh David E. Rowe is Professor of History of Mathematics and Exact Sciences at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz Erhard Scholz is Professor for History of Mathematics in Wuppertal Scott Walter is Maitre de Conferences in Epistemology at the University of Nancy

Table of Contents

Notes on contributors	xi
Introduction	1	(22)
Jeremy Gray
Part I Introduction	23	(62)
Jeremy Gray
Geometrising configurations. Heinrich Hertz and his mathematical precursors	25	(22)
Jesper Lutzen
Einstein, Poincare, and the testability of geometry	47	(11)
Arthur Miller
Geometry---formalisms and intuitions	58	(27)
Jeremy Gray
Part II Introduction	85	(150)
Jeremy Gray
The non-Euclidean style of Minkowskian relativity	91	(37)
Scott Walter
Geometries in collision: Einstein, Klein and Riemann	128	(17)
John D. Norton
Hilbert and physics (1900--1915)	145	(44)
Leo Corry
The Gottingen response to general relativity and Emmy Noether's theorems	189	(46)
David Rowe
Part III Introduction	235	(50)
Jeremy Gray
Ricci and Levi-Civita: from differential invariants to general relativity	241	(19)
Umberto Bottazzini
Weyl and the theory of connections	260	(25)
Erhard Scholz
Name index	285	(2)
Subject index	287