Hans Reichenbach, a philosopher of science who was one of five students in Einstein's first seminar on the general theory of relativity, became Einstein's bulldog, defending the theory against criticism from philosophers, physicists, and popular commentators. This book chronicles the development of Reichenbach's reconstruction of Einstein's theory in a way that clearly sets out all of its philosophical commitments and its physical predictions as well as the battles that Reichenbach fought on its behalf, in both the academic and popular press. The essays include reviews and responses to philosophical colleagues; polemical discussions with physicists Max Born and D. C. Miller; as well as popular articles meant for the layperson. At a time when physics and philosophy were both undergoing revolutionary changes in content and method, this book is a window into the development of scientific philosophy and the role of the philosopher.

Table of Contents

1 Review of Moritz Schlick’s General Theory of Knowledge

2 Einstein’s Theory of Space

3 Reply to H. Dingler’s Critique of the Theory of Relativity

4 A Report on an Axiomatization of Einstein’s Theory of Space-Time

5 Reply to Th.Wulf’s Objections to the General Theory of Relativity

6 Einstein’s Theory of Motion

7 The Theory of Relativity and Absolute Transport Time

8 Reply to Anderson’s Objections to the General Theory of Relativity

9 Review of Aloys M¨uller’s The Philosophical Problems with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity

10 The Philosophical Significance of the Theory of Relativity

11 Planet Clocks and Einsteinian Simultaneity

12 On the Physical Consequences of the Axiomatization of Relativity

13 Has the Theory of Relativity Been Refuted?

14 Response to a Publication of Mr. Hj. Mellin

Review

"...any philosopher interested in foundational issues (both historical and philosophical) on space, time, and spacetime (especially those who can't read French and German!) will want to have a copy of this book." --Dean Rickles, University of Calgary: Philosophy in Review

About the Authors

Steven Gimbel is associate professor of philosophy at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, where he was named Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teacher in 2005. He has contributed to Philosophy of Science, British Journal of Philosophy of Science, and Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics.

Anke Walz is assistant professor of mathematics at Kutztown University. Her work on the bellow's conjecture relating to flexible polyhedral with R. Connely and I. Sabitov has appeared in Beiträge zur Algebra und Geometrie and has received coverage in Science and Scientific American.