Concepts of Simultaneity: From Antiquity to Einstein and Beyond

by Max Jammer

Overview

Max Jammer's Concepts of Simultaneity presents a comprehensive, accessible account of the historical development of an important and controversial concept—which played a critical role in initiating modern theoretical physics—from the days of Egyptian hieroglyphs through to Einstein's work in 1905, and beyond.

Beginning with the use of the concept of simultaneity in ancient Egypt and in the Bible, the study discusses its role in Greek and medieval philosophy as well as its significance in Newtonian physics and in the ideas of Leibniz, Kant, and other classical philosophers. The central theme of Jammer's presentation is a critical analysis of the use of this concept by philosophers of science, like Poincaré, and its significant role in inaugurating modern theoretical physics in Einstein's special theory of relativity. Particular attention is paid to the philosophical problem of whether the notion of distant simultaneity presents a factual reality or only a hypothetical convention. The study concludes with an analysis of simultaneity's importance in general relativity and quantum mechanics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801884221
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2006
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.92(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Max Jammer, who was personally acquainted with Albert Einstein while at Princeton, is former president and professor emeritus of Bar-Ilan University and author of a number of important books, mainly in the philosophy of physics. Among his numerous awards are the Prize of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the much coveted Israel Prize.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
1. Terminological Preliminaries
2. The Concept of Simultaneity in Antiquity
3. Medieval Conceptions of Simultaneity
4. The Concept of Simultaneity in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
5. The Concept of Simultaneity in Classical Physics
6. The Transition to the Relativistic Conception of Simultaneity
7. Simultaneity in the Special Theory of Relativity
8. The Reception of the Relativistic Conception of Simultaneity
9. The Conventionality Thesis
10. The Promulgation of the Conventionality Thesis
11. Symmetry and Transitivity of Simultaneity
12. Arguments against the Conventionality Thesis
13. Clock Transport Synchrony
14. Recent Debates on the Conventionality of Simultaneity
15. Simultaneity in General Relativity and in Quantum Mechanics
Epilogue
Index

What People are Saying About This

Ronald Anderson

The study forms a comprehensive history of the concept of simultaneity from earliest antiquity to the present, the first with such a historical sweep. In addition, Max Jammer has done an invaluable service in bringing together in an impressive manner material related to the extended controversies associated with the concept of simultaneity within 20th-century physics and philosophy of physics.

— Ronald Anderson, Boston College

From the Publisher

The study forms a comprehensive history of the concept of simultaneity from earliest antiquity to the present, the first with such a historical sweep. In addition, Max Jammer has done an invaluable service in bringing together in an impressive manner material related to the extended controversies associated with the concept of simultaneity within 20th-century physics and philosophy of physics.
—Ronald Anderson, Boston College

Editorial Reviews

Concepts of Simultaneity excels at clearly explaining subtle but important issues. The book is incisive and valuable; it will appeal not only to historians and philosophers of physics but also to physicists drawn to the elements of special relativity.
—Alberto A. Martinez, Physics Today

This interesting, carefully crafted analysis of some fundamental ideas belongs in good college library collections . . . Highly recommended.
—Choice

Concepts of Simultaneity provides a welcome survey of the development of our views and theories of simultaneity, bringing together sources in history, physics and philosophy. The book covers an impressive array of material.
—Jill North, American Scientist

The view of simultaneity presented by Max Jammer is almost breathtaking . . . I think Jammer has written a valuable book.
—Allen I. Janis, Sudies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

Presents a very well-researched and thought-provoking analysis of the topic.
—Mark Shumelda, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

I highly recommend the book.
—Craig Callender, Isis

Jammer's book is a significant contribution to the literature on the physics of time and merits the attention of both physicists and philosophers of science.
—Howard E. Brandt, Mathematical Reviews

From the Publisher

Presents a very well-researched and thought-provoking analysis of the topic.

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences - Mark Shumelda

Concepts of Simultaneity provides a welcome survey of the development of our views and theories of simultaneity, bringing together sources in history, physics and philosophy. The book covers an impressive array of material.

American Scientist - Jill North

The view of simultaneity presented by Max Jammer is almost breathtaking . . . I think Jammer has written a valuable book.

Sudies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics - Allen I. Janis

This interesting, carefully crafted analysis of some fundamental ideas belongs in good college library collections . . . Highly recommended.

Choice

Jammer's book is a significant contribution to the literature on the physics of time and merits the attention of both physicists and philosophers of science.

Mathematical Reviews - Howard E. Brandt

I highly recommend the book.

Isis - Craig Callender

Concepts of Simultaneity excels at clearly explaining subtle but important issues. The book is incisive and valuable; it will appeal not only to historians and philosophers of physics but also to physicists drawn to the elements of special relativity.

Physics Today - Alberto A. Martinez

Jammer's book is a significant contribution to the literature on the physics of time and merits the attention of both physicists and philosophers of science.

— Howard E. Brandt

Mathematical Reviews

I highly recommend the book.

— Craig Callender

Isis

Presents a very well-researched and thought-provoking analysis of the topic.

— Mark Shumelda

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

The view of simultaneity presented by Max Jammer is almost breathtaking... I think Jammer has written a valuable book.

— Allen I. Janis

Sudies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

Concepts of Simultaneity provides a welcome survey of the development of our views and theories of simultaneity, bringing together sources in history, physics and philosophy. The book covers an impressive array of material.

— Jill North

American Scientist

Concepts of Simultaneity excels at clearly explaining subtle but important issues. The book is incisive and valuable; it will appeal not only to historians and philosophers of physics but also to physicists drawn to the elements of special relativity.

— Alberto A. Martinez

Physics Today