The Analysis of Singular Spacetimes

Curiel, Erik (1999): The Analysis of Singular Spacetimes. In: Philosophy of Science, Bd. 66: S119-S145

Abstract

Much controversy surrounds the question of what ought to be the proper definition of 'singularity' in general relativity, and the question of whether the prediction of such entities leads to a crisis for the theory. I argue that a definition in terms of curve incompleteness is adequate, and in particular that the idea that singularities correspond to 'missing points' has insurmountable problems. I conclude that singularities per se pose no serious problem for the theory, but their analysis does bring into focus several problems of interpretation at the foundation of the theory often ignored in the philosophical literature.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Keywords: general relativity; singularities; cosmic censorship
• Fakultät: Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) ; Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft > Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie
• Themengebiete: 100 Philosophie und Psychologie > 100 Philosophie
• ISSN: 0031-8248
• Sprache: Englisch