Physical Relativity from a Functionalist Perspective

TY - JOUR

T1 - Physical Relativity from a Functionalist Perspective

AU - Knox, Eleanor

PY - 2019/8

Y1 - 2019/8

N2 - This paper looks at the relationship between spacetime functionalism and Harvey Brown's dynamical relativity. One popular way of reading and extending Brown's programme in the literature rests on viewing his position as a version of relationism. But a kind of spacetime functionalism extends the project in a different way, by focussing on the account Brown gives of the role of spacetime in relativistic theories. It is then possible to see this as giving a functional account of the concept of spacetime which may be applied to theories that go beyond relativity. This paper explores the way in which both the relationist project and the functionalist project relate to Brown's work, despite being incompatible. Ultimately, these should not be seen as two conflicting readings of Brown, but two different directions in which to take his project.

AB - This paper looks at the relationship between spacetime functionalism and Harvey Brown's dynamical relativity. One popular way of reading and extending Brown's programme in the literature rests on viewing his position as a version of relationism. But a kind of spacetime functionalism extends the project in a different way, by focussing on the account Brown gives of the role of spacetime in relativistic theories. It is then possible to see this as giving a functional account of the concept of spacetime which may be applied to theories that go beyond relativity. This paper explores the way in which both the relationist project and the functionalist project relate to Brown's work, despite being incompatible. Ultimately, these should not be seen as two conflicting readings of Brown, but two different directions in which to take his project.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030684056&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.shpsb.2017.09.008

DO - 10.1016/j.shpsb.2017.09.008

M3 - Article

SN - 1355-2198

VL - 67

SP - 118

EP - 124

JO - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

JF - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

ER -