2 research outputs found
Comparing theories: the dynamics of changing vocabulary. A case-study in relativity theory
There are several first-order logic (FOL) axiomatizations of special
relativity theory in the literature, all looking essentially different but
claiming to axiomatize the same physical theory. In this paper, we elaborate a
comparison, in the framework of mathematical logic, between these FOL theories
for special relativity. For this comparison, we use a version of mathematical
definability theory in which new entities can also be defined besides new
relations over already available entities. In particular, we build an
interpretation of the reference-frame oriented theory SpecRel into the
observationally oriented Signalling theory of James Ax. This interpretation
provides SpecRel with an operational/experimental semantics. Then we make
precise, "quantitative" comparisons between these two theories via using the
notion of definitional equivalence. This is an application of logic to the
philosophy of science and physics in the spirit of Johan van Benthem's work.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures. To appear in Springer Book series Trends in
Logi