scholarly journals Post-non-classical synthesis of knowledge and social science

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-168
Author(s):  
Anatoliy Pypych
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
World Picture ◽  
Theoretical Synthesis ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Type ◽  
Human And Nature ◽  
The Impact

The author proceeds from the traditional consideration of the specifics of the social from the views of the Neo-Kantians and Dilthey on the distinction between "humanities" and "science". First of all, this difference is overcome by the synthesis of knowledge of human and nature, sociobiology being an example of that. Within non-classical and post-non-classical varieties of scientific knowledge, the tendency for theoretical synthesis is being increased. Cybernetics and synergetics are mentioned as oriented towards a new type of rationality and being essentially synthetic already in their origins. The author argues that the social knowledge, performative in its nature, obtains particular importance in the holistic world-picture. Its theoretical synthesis is difficult to achieve due to the large number of different concepts of the social, which has been designated as its multiparadigmality. According to the author, the approach to systematization proposed by sources does not contribute to solving the problem. Especially when taking into account within the world-picture the impact on the synthesis process caused not only by the knowledge of human and nature, but by technical knowledge as well. It is suggested to return to the origins of the very concept of paradigm by T. Kuhn, it's not only historical (paradigms change over time) but logical aspect as well (they are internally related). An example provided is A. Einstein's theory of relativity, where this connection of the two paradigms (both Galileo-Newton’s and Einstein's principles of relativity) constitutes a unity through the interconnection of general and special relativity. On this ground the author proposes to take the mentioned structure as a model for constructing a synthetic theory of the social, in which a special and general theory of the social would constitute a certain integrity. The first part (the special theory) would have a direct relation to human, and the second part would deal with human relations in the light of the knowledge of nature and technology (general theory of the social).

scholarly journals Philosophy in science – a case study of the reception of the Special and the General Theory of Relativity in Kraków and Lwów before 1925

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 245-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Polak ◽  
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Scientific Activity ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
General Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Special Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Philosophical Debate ◽  
Science Philosophy ◽  
The Impact

A centenary of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity brings forward some questions with regard to the impact of Einstein’s theory on philosophy. This theory, and the chronologically earlier Special Theory of Relativity, have had many important philosophical implications. In Poland they provoked interesting philosophical discussions before WWII. The history of those discussions reveals numerous noteworthy facts concerning the relationships between mathematics, physics and philosophy. A case study of the reception of the Special and General Theory of Relativity in Kraków and Lwów before 1925 focuses on the peculiar specificity of exact sciences and philosophy in Polish Galicia. The concept of “philosophy in science” coined by Michael Heller is particularly suitable for describing this specificity. The article begins with a short overview of the early reception of the Special Theory of Relativity in Kraków. Next, it shows how the discussions during the 10th and 11th Congresses of Polish Physicians and Natural Scientists (Lwów 1907, Kraków 1911) influenced the reception of the STR. What is also discussed are the roots of the specificity of the reception in Lwów, i.e. the influence of the considerations about the foundations of mechanics and a public philosophical debate around Einstein’s theories. In order to demonstrate how different the reception of these theories was in Kraków, a description is provided of a methodological debate between S. Zaremba and T. Banachiewicz. Some notes are also added about the concurrent styles of philosophy of science (philosophy of nature). The article ends with conclusions about the specificity of Kraków’s and Lwów’s styles of philosophy in science. This study reveals that in this period Einstein’s theories significantly stimulated philosophical considerations in Poland. These considerations have become an important supplement to the scientific activity in Kraków and Lwów.

Albert Einstein’s Epistemic Virtues and Vices

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-195
Author(s):  
Vladimir P. Vizgin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Mathematical Aspect ◽  
General Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Special Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Epistemic Virtues ◽  
The Universe

The article is based on the concepts of epistemic virtues and epistemic vices and explores A. Einstein’s contribution to the creation of fundamental physical theories, namely the special theory of relativity and general theory of relativity, as well as to the development of a unified field theory on the basis of the geometric field program, which never led to success. Among the main epistemic virtues that led Einstein to success in the construction of the special theory of relativity are the following: a unique physical intuition based on the method of thought experiment and the need for an experimental justification of space-time concepts; striving for simplicity and elegance of theory; scientific courage, rebelliousness, signifying the readiness to engage in confrontation with scientific conventional dogmas and authorities. In the creation of general theory of relativity, another intellectual virtue was added to these virtues: the belief in the heuristic power of the mathematical aspect of physics. At the same time, he had to overcome his initial underestimation of the H. Minkowski’s four-dimensional concept of space and time, which has manifested in a distinctive flexibility of thinking typical for Einstein in his early years. The creative role of Einstein’s mistakes on the way to general relativity was emphasized. These mistakes were mostly related to the difficulties of harmonizing the mathematical and physical aspects of theory, less so to epistemic vices. The ambivalence of the concept of epistemic virtues, which can be transformed into epistemic vices, is noted. This transformation happened in the second half of Einstein’s life, when he for more than thirty years unsuccessfully tried to build a unified geometric field theory and to find an alternative to quantum mechanics with their probabilistic and Copenhagen interpretation In this case, we can talk about the following epistemic vices: the revaluation of mathematical aspect and underestimation of experimentally – empirical aspect of the theory; adopting the concepts general relativity is based on (continualism, classical causality, geometric nature of fundamental interactions) as fundamental; unprecedented persistence in defending the GFP (geometrical field program), despite its failures, and a certain loss of the flexibility of thinking. A cosmological history that is associated both with the application of GTR (general theory of relativity) to the structure of the Universe, and with the missed possibility of discovering the theory of the expanding Universe is intermediate in relation to Einstein’s epistemic virtues and vices. This opportunity was realized by A.A. Friedmann, who defeated Einstein in the dispute about if the Universe was stationary or nonstationary. In this dispute some of Einstein’s vices were revealed, which Friedman did not have. The connection between epistemic virtues and the methodological principles of physics and also with the “fallibilist” concept of scientific knowledge development has been noted.

4. Energy, mass, and light

2019 ◽  
pp. 39-51
Author(s):  
Geoff Cottrell
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
General Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Special Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Speed Of Light ◽  
Space And Time

By the beginning of the twentieth century, our understanding of matter was completely transformed by the great discoveries of electromagnetism and relativity. ‘Energy, mass, and light’ outlines Einstein’s special theory of relativity of 1905, which describes what happens when objects move at speeds close to the speed of light. The theory transformed our understanding of the nature of space and time, and matter through the equivalence of mass and energy. In 1916, Einstein extended the theory to include gravity in the general theory of relativity, which revealed that matter affects space by curving space around it.

The Annotated Manuscript

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanoch Gutfreund ◽  
Jürgen Renn
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Equations Of Motion ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Material Point ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
General Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Field Equations ◽  
Theory Of Gravitation

This section presents annotations of the manuscript of Albert Einstein's canonical 1916 paper on the general theory of relativity. It begins with a discussion of the foundation of the general theory of relativity, taking into account Einstein's fundamental considerations on the postulate of relativity, and more specifically why he went beyond the special theory of relativity. It then considers the spacetime continuum, explaining the role of coordinates in the new theory of gravitation. It also describes tensors of the second and higher ranks, multiplication of tensors, the equation of the geodetic line, the formation of tensors by differentiation, equations of motion of a material point in the gravitational field, the general form of the field equations of gravitation, and the laws of conservation in the general case. Finally, the behavior of rods and clocks in the static gravitational field is examined.

The Gilets Jaunes and the New Social Contract

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Devellennes
Keyword(s):  
Social Movement ◽  
Social Contract ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Fundamental Challenge ◽  
New Type ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

This book provides a detailed account of the gilets jaunes, the yellow vest movement that has shaken France since 2018. The gilets jaunes are a group of French protesters named after their iconic yellow vests worn during their demonstrations, who have formed a new type of social movement. They have been variously interpreted since they began their occupation of French roundabouts: at first received with enthusiasm on the right of the French political establishment, and with caution on the left. They have provided a fundamental challenge to the social contract in France, the implicit pact between the governed and their political leaders. The book assesses what lessons can be drawn from their activities and the impact for the contemporary relationship between state and citizen. Informed by a dialogue with past political theorists — from Hobbes, Spinoza and Rousseau to Rawls, Nozick and Diderot — and reflecting on the challenges posed by the yellow vest movement, the book rethinks the concept of the social contract for contemporary societies around the world. It proposes a new relationship between the state and the individual, and establishes the necessity of rethinking the modern democratic nature of our representative polities in order to provide a genuine process for the healing of social ills.

scholarly journals The sharing economy: the emerging debate in Spain

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borja Suárez Corujo
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Spanish Law ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Previous Step

Abstract: Focusing attention on work-on-demand via apps, this article deals with the consequences of the slow emergence of the so-called sharing economy in Spain. As far as the labour field is concerned, it examines the advantages and risks that this new type of service provision (work?) entails and how Spanish law treats it as a previous step to reflect on the ability of the (labour) current regulation to secure ‘collaborators’ decent working conditions. By extension, it also analyzes the impact that thesedeveloping activities could have on the Social Security system, in terms of protection (or lack of it) and financial condition.Keywords: sharing economy, employee, employmen contract, social security.

Einstein’s Intellectual Odyssey to General Relativity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanoch Gutfreund ◽  
Jürgen Renn
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Equivalence Principle ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
General Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Special Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Theory Of Gravitation ◽  
To Come

This section discusses the development of Albert Einstein's ideas and attitudes as he struggled for eight years to come up with a general theory of relativity that would meet the physical and mathematical requirements laid down at the outset. It first considers Einstein's work on gravitation in Prague before analyzing three documents that played a significant role in his search for a theory of general relativity: the Zurich Notebook, the Einstein–Grossmann Entwurf paper, and the Einstein–Besso manuscript. It then looks at Einstein's completion of his general theory of relativity in Berlin in November 1915, along with his development of a new theory of gravitation within the framework of the special theory of relativity. It also examines the formulation of the basic idea that Einstein termed the “equivalence principle,” his Entwurf theory vs. David Hilbert's theory, and the 1916 manuscript of Einstein's work on the general theory of relativity.

scholarly journals Inconsistency between the general theory of relativity and the experimental results of Faraday's unipolar inductor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Patrinos
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Electromotive Force ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
General Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Special Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Rotating System ◽  
Quantitative Estimates

The non-inertiality of the rotating system of Faraday's unipolar generator forces us to address this problem using the principles of the general theory of relativity. The purpose of this study is to compare the theoretical quantitative estimates of induced electromotive force with the experimental results obtained from the corresponding measurements. The theoretical elaboration of this issue proves that the differences between the results of the general theory in relation to those of the special theory of relativity are some negligible terms, which are due to the non-inertiality of the rotating reference system. This result enables us to consider the theoretical estimates based on special and general relativity as equivalent, with quite satisfactory accuracy. Therefore, a very serious issue of inconsistency between the theory of relativity and the measurements of induced electromotive force emerges, since as already shown in the existing literature, this inconsistency, from the point of view of the special theory of relativity, is already proven.

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