Concepts of Simultaneity: From Antiquity to Einstein and Beyond

by Max Jammer

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.

Genres: Philosophy, Physics

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2006

Reviews

[Jonathan Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed this physics textbook from a university library and loved it. A challenging and incredible survey of the historical discourse on the propagation of electromagnetic energy through the fabric of spacetime.

[Alan]

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