On Relativity Theory and Openness of the Future

Abstract

It has been repeatedly argued, most recently by Nicholas Maxwell, that the special theory of relativity is incompatible with the view that the future is in some degree undetermined; and Maxwell contends that this is a reason to reject that theory. In the present paper, an analysis is offered of the notion of indeterminateness (or “becoming”) that is uniquely appropriate to the special theory of relativity, in the light of a set of natural conditions upon such a notion; and reasons are given for regarding this conception as (not just formally consistent with relativity theory, but also) philosophically reasonable. The bearings upon Maxwell's program for quantum theory are briefly considered.

David Malament and the Conventionality of Simultaneity: A Reply

“…4. Howard Stein made a helpful distinction that I shall bring to bear on my appraisal below of Friedman's critique of me, which Malament endorsed: 7 There are really two distinct aspects to the issue of the "conventionality" of Einstein's concept of relative simultaneity. One may assume the position of Einstein himself at the outset of his investigation--that is, of one confronted by a problem, trying to find a theory that will deal with it satisfactorily; or one may assume the position of (for instance) Minkowski--that is, of one confronted with a theory already developed, trying to find its most adequate and instructive formulation.…”

Spacetime as a causal set: Universe as a growing block?

“…41 First, it involves the intention to graft the explication of the terms 'present' and 'temporal Becoming' on the intrinsic geometry of Minkowski spacetime. To this end, Stein (1991) demonstrated that the only plausible two-place relation 'Rxy' between points of Minkowski spacetime that (i) exhibits the necessary formal properties (reflexivity, transitivity, non-universality) to admit the interpretation 'x has already become as of y' , and (ii) is invariant under automorphisms preserving time-orientation, is 39 The referred to talk by Fay Dowker bears the title "Discrete spacetime: Things happen, they just happen in a partial order" and the slides for it are available in the Internet (Dowker 2015). 40 Savitt's (2014) provides an overview and parts II and III of (Stein 1968, 15).…”

Knowledge Transfer Openness Matrix Facilitating Accessibility in UK Management Education Teaching

“…Indeterminacy suggests that a system does not have sufficiently rigid boundaries and discrete variables such that its development is wholly determined in advance (Stein, 1991). This characterizes most systems that are used by humans, which are open systems consisting variables not wholly determined in advance.…”