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(1979) Einstein Symposion Berlin, Dordrecht, Springer.
The mathematical origins of general relativity and of unified field theories
Elie G. Zahar
pp. 370-396
In this paper I discuss the heuristic role which mathematics plays in physical discovery: first through the surplus structure which mathematics injects into physical principles which are given a mathematical formulation; secondly, through the realist interpretation of certain mathematical entities which appear at first sight to be devoid of any physical meaning. I then try to account for this dual role of mathematics in terms of a single philosophical principle, namely Meyerson's principle of identity. I finally apply these considerations to the study of two important questions; the questions namely of the continuity between STR and GTR (STR = Special Theory of Relativity, GTR = General Theory of Relativity) and of the emergence both of General Relativity and of the Unified Field Theories of Weyl, Eddington and Schrödinger-Einstein.
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Full citation:
Zahar, E. G. (1979)., The mathematical origins of general relativity and of unified field theories, in H. Nelkowski, R. Schrader & R. Seiler (eds.), Einstein Symposion Berlin, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 370-396.
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