Reclaiming the common sense foundations of knowledge
The site seeks
to further the debate about the foundations of knowledge by facilitating access
to the arguments of critics of orthodoxy. Because of the perennially central
role the natural sciences, critical arguments focus on the presuppositions,
concepts and methods of modern physics, and especially on the cognitive
revolution associated with special relativity ("anti-relativity").
| Contents | Continue to: | page 2 | page 3: links for critics | Jews against Zionism |
Part 1: Aids to
communication1.1. Associations, institutes etc.
1.2. A small selection
of books by critics (foundations only)
1.3. Critics A-Z
Enlightenment is Man's emergence from self-imposed tutelage, that is to say, from the inability to use the intellect without guidance by another. It is self-imposed if its cause does not lie in a deficiency of the intellect but of the courage and determination to use it autonomously. Sapere aude! Have the courage to think! is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment. (I. Kant, Was ist Aufklärung?)The motto had encouraged young post-war Germans confronted with the profound intellectual and moral failure that had been responsible for the rise of Nazism to power. The motto harks back to the classical emphasis on critical reflection. It is therefore apt in the present context because it places the task of radical re-thinking in a historical context, namely the perennial evolution of understanding and self-knowledge.
The inquiry into foundations is vulnerable to the fragmentation of knowledge; asking the expert is there never an option. Unfortunately, despite the conjunction of physics, mathematics and epistemology in the classical 'philosophy' tripos as a core subject for all students (of all subjects), there is the temptation to neglect topics not obviously connected with one's chosen speciality. Furthermore, the misguided modern esteem for fast-track study is based on a misconception concerning the nature of cognitive growth; it atrophies cognitive capacity because it underestimates the time needed for reflective and wide reading across related disciplines and including different schools. Fragmented knowledge defeats its purpose:
The complaints of critics about the intrusion of unintelligible mathematical procedures are particularly important; difficulties generally can be seen to be of mathematical origin. Mathematics (the quantitative analysis of patterns) plays a central role because we study causes by means of their quantifiable effects (i.e. patterns generated by the geometric action of 'natural forces'). Unfortunately, developments in mathematics have been too rapid and left unattended by epistemological scrutiny; M. Kline observes that even professionals are too frightened to leave their expert niches (he does not observe that the infatuation with novelty does not help users of conventional methods). Apparently queer results deserve the urgent attention of epistemologists. This applies particularly to alternative measurement specifications by way of invariant transforms - by their very nature not amenable to experimental verification - e.g. the so-called space-time analysis of SR which cannot be understood in separation from the quantitative treatment. Not only are such results symptoms of cognitive failure at an alarmingly elementary level (concepts of elementary geometry; an absurd confusion of different algebras); but radically 'new' treatments have become the springboard for developments more pernicious because ever more complicated.
There is the danger of seeking relief in alternatives (ontological or utilitarian) and short-term fixes; but the very nature of the difficulties can leave no doubt that a radical inquiry into the foundations of knowledge is needed. In this enterprise, critics might profit from the defence of common sense against skeptics and transcendalists by Aristotle (see the entry in the introductory reading list). Cognitive studies today show the fiendish complexity of apparently simple questions; the philosophical scorn poured on Aristotle (and Locke) is therefore misplaced. To quote from P. H. Wicksteed's General Introduction to the Loeb edition of the Physics:
If he was on the wrong side it does not follow that he was not on the right path. Much of his physics is of vital significance in relation to that borderland between physical and metaphysical thought where mathematics and philosophy meet.Let's briefly remind ourselves of the unitary tradition as summarized by Aristotle; the sophistication of this tradition is strikingly evident on comparison with the elite of later thinkers (for instance the crude and naively overconfident theory of knowledge of a Descartes). The common sense inquiry into 'the scheme of things' seeks to unravel the ultimate (physical) causes of the potential for change and action. Life, including the cultural potential of advanced social animals such as homo sapiens, would be expected to evolve by so-called natural law from the constituents of physical existence.
Aristotle's inquiry into the concepts of geometry and physics is particularly important, in view of perennial blunders (the 'time flow' of Barrow and Newton, not to mention contemporary notions; the 'physical properties of space' of Gauss, Riemann, Helmholtz; the mathematically useless appeal to the 'space of perception' among critics today) or difficulties (moving spaces). Needless to say, because of the nature of foundational inquiries, some of Aristotle's questions are hopelessly outdated, while some of his most puzzling difficulties (levels of truth and abstraction) have been overcome by later developments (e.g. Grassmann's extension of the classical notion of analogy to the space concept). These changes do not devalue the encouragement given by his relentless struggle against seemingly hopeless conceptual confusions.
From ancient habits, the longing for truth is an occasion for wishful thinking, for flights of fancy: 'alternative' theories regardless of the lack of foundations. Efforts critical of foundations are nowhere listed, and are rejected as 'negative'. To quote the philosopher Bernard Williams:
If we accept that there can be knowledge at the hypertraditional or unreflective level; if we accept the obvious truth that reflection characteristically disturbs, unseats, or replaces those traditional concepts; and if we agree that, at least as things are, the reflective level is not in a position to give us knowledge we did not have before - then we reach the notably un-Socratic conclusion that ... reflection can destroy knowledge. (p.148)Or nearer to home, a quotation from Mario Bunge's awesome (if mathematically misguided) Foundations of Physics, p.7:How truthfulness ... is to be combined with reflection ... is a question that philosophy ... cannot answer. The answer has to be discovered, or established, as the result of a process ... which essentially cannot formulate the answer in advance, except in an unspecific way. ... This is why it is a misunderstanding to ask ... "what alternative" one has to [given theoretical] formulations. ... To suppose that, if [current] formulations are rejected, we are left with nothing is to take a strange view of what ... counts as something. (pp.200-201)
...a third chief obstacle to the growth of [foundation research is ...] the dislike of criticism for seeming to be sterile and even unkind. It is sometimes argued that scientific research is a cooperative enterprise - true - and that new facts, which alone matter - false - are not discovered by criticism but by hard, constructive and cooperative work - a work consisting in attentively staring at things and busily manipulating them.Present difficulties reveal a lack of elementary cognitive competence, not least an inability to use mathematical symbols as a new kind of language for quantitative truths that are self-evident; as in the evolution of 'ordinary' written language, users tend to resort to kabbalistic techniques (grotesquely inapplicable algebras 'interpreted' and 'explained' to the student). Understanding and insight are expressions of life: ever in evolution. In that sense,
(I presuppose familiarity with classical as well as modern texts which should not be dismissed as 'books': history and philosophy of the foundations of physics and mathematics. The philosophy of science has rightly been dismissed as the publicity department of establishment physics; its omission in my lists is deliberate. I include - here and in Pt.2.2.2. - only a few texts that help to follow the course of pernicious developments. Because of the neglect of visual logic, changes in the usage and terminology of 'algebra' are particularly important.)Aristotle. There is a growing awareness of his unequalled status as a pioneer of the empirist tradition; but he needs to be approached with caution for two reasons:
Arnheim, R., Visual Thinking. London: Faber, 1970. (On the impoverishment of the imagination by the mathematics of number.)
Bunge, M., Foundations of Physics. Berlin etc.: Springer,
1967. Copleston, F., A History of Philosophy, especially Vols. IV to VI. New
York: Image Books, 1964. Highly recommended.
Crowe, M.J., A History of Vector Analysis. Univ. of
Notre Dame Press, 1967. (Indispensable for critics because of
detailed attention to Grassmann's clarification of concepts such as 'axiom'. To
be read in the historical context - e.g. Copleston on Kant, and in
complementation of ostensibly richer but anti-physics histories such as Kline,
v.d.Waerden or Torretti.)
Ferguson, E.S., Engineering and the Mind's Eye. Cambr.: MIT Press,
1982. (On the debilitation of essential engineering skills by
counter-intuitive mathematics.)
Gazzaniga, M. S. (ed.), The New Cognitive
Neurosciences. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 2000. (Listed
here only as one of many representative texts in a vast and rapidly growing
literature. Core subject for epistemology, natural philosophy and criticism of
the foundations of physics.)
Heath, T.L. (ed.), Euclid: The thirteen books of the Elements, 3 vols.
Dover reprint, 1956.
Heath, T.L., A History of Greek Mathematics, 2 vols. Dover reprint,
1981.
Heath, T.L., Mathematics in Aristotle. Oxford: Clarendon 1949. Compulsory reading.
James, W., Principles of Psychology. New York: H. Holt, 1890. Dover
reprint 1950. Kellman, P.J., and Arterberry, M.E., The Cradle of Knowledge: Development
of Perception in Infancy. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 1998. (Comprehensive bibliography on all aspects of perception: psychology,
epistemology, mathematics.)
Kline, M., Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times. OUP:
1972. (Compulsory reference for all critics.)
Maziarz, E.A., The Philosophy of Mathematics, New York: Philosophical
Library, 1950. (Highly recommended; comprehensive
bibliography.)
Merz, J.Th., A History of European Thought in the Nineteenth Century.
4 vols. Edinburgh/London: 1907 ff.
Passmore, J., A Hundred Years of Philosophy. Penguin, 1968. (Cf. pp.36ff. on the implications of the existence of natural
forces.)
Sheen, F.J., Philosophy of Science. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publ. Co.,
1934. (Brilliant discussion of the catastrophic consequences of
Kant's anti-empiricist theory of knowledge. Drawback: metaphysics founded on
preconceived notions of Being. Unchanging formal principles need not exclude
that reality is a coming into existence, a kind of growth.)
Smith, V. E., The Philosophical Frontiers of Physics. Washington: The
Catholic University of America Press, 1947. (Good on classical
empiricism, but blind to the role of force and its geometric action.)
Taylor, A. E., Aristotle. New York: Dover, 1956 (London: Th. Nelson
& Sons, 1943).
Thiele, Ch., Philosophie und Mathematik (in German). Darmstadt:
Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1995. Walker, S., Animal Thought. London: Routledge, 1983. (On
the inadequacy of philosophical notions of concept and abstraction.)
Williams, B., Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy. London &
Glasgow: Fontana Press/Collins, 1985.
The Global Dissident Physics Association ('ethical discourse in natural
philosophy'), Australia. Natural Philosophy Alliance, founded 1994. Research Group "Geometry and Physics" (Director: Prof. Umberto
Bartocci), Department of
Mathematics, University of Perugia, Via Vanvitelli 1, 06100 Perugia, Italy;
bartocci@dipmat.unipg.it
(Orthodoxy at its most erudite, sophisticated and
critical; compulsory text in foundations for patient reflection. But a tragedy
of the first order: epistemology guided by the philosophy of mathematics -
despite its ridicule by professional mathematicians - which arrogantly dismisses
visual logic as non-existent and therefore fails to distinguish between
symbolic/mathematical logic and the mathematics of number and extension. An
entire level of reference has thus gone missing, namely the abstract visual
patterns denoted by the mathematical symbols of analysis in physics.
Operationalism is therefore inevitable, namely the fatal assumption that the
referents of mathematical symbols are physical objects or phenomena, real or
hypothetical. The result is a serious misconception of the nature, purpose,
methods and objects of inquiry in physics.)
(See his strictures on "philosophical absolutism"
throughout the detailed discussions of all relevant topics, in a massive
investigation which is receiving renewed attention.)
(Comprehensive survey
& bibliography, from an unquestioned dualistic perspective, of trends in the
foundations of mathematics, including concepts of space. Typically, Grassmann is
not even mentioned. Note the queer outcome of the dualist theory of knowledge
where mere abstractions such as mathematical spaces present as mystically
co-existing real universes.)
Part 1: Aids to communication
1.1. Associations, directories, institutes etc. (A-Z):
Directory of
dissident physicists and their beliefs, ed. Dr. J.P. Wesley, Weiherdammstr. 24,
78176 Blumberg, Germany; Dr.PaulWesley@gmx.de
(Evidence of high-level criticism.
Unfortunately, the "no formalisms" stance is a counsel of despair. Physics is
quantitative; what is needed is mathematical competence.)
http://home.networkone.net/~deagle/muse/
(In the absence
of any organized alternative, despite the ever present danger of rhetoric, this
could have been an inestimable aid to information and support. Unfortunately
wide open to exploitation of the legitimate concern with the crisis in
professional physics by camps that can only gain from mudding the waters -
theoreticians, mathematicians - and by the lucrative and rampant 'dissident'
market - publishing, alternative theory, amateur philosophy and ontology,
popular 'physics without maths'. At best inattentive to the epistemological
foundations of quantification - cf. Bunge; prey to operationalist mathematics
at its most farcical, and a Trojan horse for cohorts of algebra 'experts' waiting in the
wings.)
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Deneb/
http://www.dipmat.unipg.it/~bartocci/
Comment: Prof. Bartocci's Institute
Unfortunately, harping on the
difference between mathematics and physics - Prof. Marmet's response in
.../quest.htm, for instance - obscures that the long-standing obsession with
abstract formalisms has led to the failure to distinguish between two different
mathematical problems. The LT, a valid solution of a problem in 4D group
algebra, is not the correct solution of an entirely different mathematical
(N.B.: not physical) problem: namely the invariant transform for displacement
vectors (3D because t is here not an independent variable). That is why there
are problems of verification and complaints about 'contradictions'. For brief
remarks see Pt.2.1.
below and page
2.
It is to be emphasized that, without attention to the (elementary!) mathematical foundation of real or supposed 'problems', critical arguments (ether, space, time, relative vs. absolute, simultaneity etc.) and experimental approaches (clock retardation, superluminarity) are not only misconceived but counterproductive. (For instance, Dingle and O'Rahilli typically regurgitate the 'algebra' inapplicable in an argument about displacements, and proceed to verbose laments on the predictably queer outcome. Rudakov, from his declared blind trust in 'mathematical rules', never notices the discrepancy of a verbal passage thought crucial - whether K' or K" is 'moving' - with the mathematical treatment.) However, in view of the belief that Einstein is admirable precisely because he is unintelligible, my lists are tolerant because the honest labours of critics are to be applauded.
For lack of space I list here only a small number of books that challenge the foundations of physics:
In the A-Z list of critics of foundations I refer to the following comprehensive lists of typical titles (books, articles, conference papers):
As remarked in the introduction to Dr. Wesley's 1997 Directory of Dissident Physicists, there is little agreement.Because of the non-technical nature of the underlying problem it would be an error to confine the list to established academics. Those inclined to turn up their noses at the dubious company might bear in mind that the first scientific revolution could not have succeeded without the help of 'a mean sort of men' between 'the rascal multitude and the learned sages' (Ch. Hill, Ch.2). In view of the immensity of the tragedy, and in a culture which mercilessly abuses education for authoritarian purposes, it is a mark of honour to have protested. (Günther Baer's list of conscientious objectors to establishment teaching and tactics, likewise, emphasizes the honour of standing up to be counted: 'We are not alone', http://www.spur-aktuell.de/WerZaehltSie4.html. The overlap with my list is small: Herr Friebe, Dr. Galeczki, Dr. Lumpe.)
My list honours many NPA-members; this had been indicated by an NPA-tag. The veto on any allusion to NPA-membership, although unhelpful, does not warrant a revision of such entries.
Achterberg, Abraham
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Adey, A.I.A., Technical University, 5604 EE Eindhoven, The Netherlands
(GE)
Agathangelidis, Antonis, Chris. Smirnis 22, Nea Menemeni, Thessaloniki 561
22, Greece
(GE)
Ahn, Byoung Ha, 2420 Whitney Ave. E5, Hamden, CT 06518, USA; byoungha@excite.com
Ahonen, Erkki Paavali (*1932), (University of Turku), Finland
Alford, Jeff (Sandy)
Allen, Dr. Dennis P., Jr., mathematician, P.O.Box 41, Spring Lake, MI 49456, USA
Alliatta, Guilio
(ca. 1923 cf. Moch)
Antonopoulos, Constantin, Interdisciplinary Department, National Technical
University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9, Athens 157 73, Greece
(Ap94)
Anteski, Dr. Michael, Santa Fe, NM 87505-9078, USA
Apgar, Dr. Edward, Science Center, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138,
USA
(NPA97b, 00)
Apostol, Marian (pro-Einstein), Department of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Atomic Physics, Magurele-Bucharest MG-6, Romania
Arp, Dr., Halton, Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, 85740 München
(Garching), Germany
(NPA00)
Aspden, Dr. Harold, formerly Prof. of Electrical Engineering, University of Southampton, Chilworth, Southampton, SO16 7HZ England
Assis, Dr. Andre K.T.,
Instituto de Fisica - DRCC, Universidade Estad de Campinas, Brazil
(NPA00) (+AAAD)
Åstrand, Ingvar, Forssavägen 4, 152 52, Södertälje, Sweden;
unitheory@hotmail.com
(NPA00)
Atkin, Adam, P.O. Box 950, Briarcliff, NY 10510, USA
Avetissian, A.K. & H.K.
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Babin, Walter, Canada
Baer, Günther, Germany
(1993 cf.
Moch)
Baig, Mirza Abdullah
(cf. Twain97)
Baird, Eric, U.K.
Ball, Lewis, RCfTA,
School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
(superluminal;
cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Balster, Dr. Wilhelm
(1921f. cf. Moch)
Barrows, Michael, Pacifica, CA 94044, USA; myc001@aol.com
Barth,
Gotthard, ed. (1954 - 1989) Wissen im Werden, A-2063 Zwingendorf, Austria
(1984& Moch)
Barthel, Dr. P.D., Kapteyn
Astronomical Institute, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
(superluminal;
cf. Twain95)
Bartocci, Prof. Umberto, Director of the Research Group "Geometry and Physics", Department of Mathematics, University of Perugia, Italy
Beal, Alasdair (ed. SIS journal), Leeds, West Yorkshire, U.K
Beaty, William J. (Bill), Seattle, WA 98117, USA
Beckerle, John, 38 Two Ponds Road, Falmouth, MA 02540, USA sarajcb@cape.com
(NPA00)
+Beckmann, Petr, Founder-Editor, Galilean Electrodynamics (1990), Prof. Em.
of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
(GE)
Begg, Eric, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
06269, USA
(NPA97b)
Bergman, David L., Common Sense Science, Kennesaw, GA 30144-8013, USA
Bertram, Dr. Sidney, 55 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93406, USA;
sidbertram@aol.com
(NPA97c, 00, o2)
Birch, Paul (*1956), Cowes,
IOW, PO31 8BN, England
(superluminal, space theorist; cf. Twain95, 97)
Birks, D. and S.
Bjerknes, Christopher Jon
Bludman,
Sidney A.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Bockris, Dr. John O'M., Prof. Em. of Chemistry, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77845, USA; bockris@myriad.net or bockris@tca.net
(NPA97a)
Bolger, Stephen R., New York, NY 10024, USA
(NPA00)
Bolstein, Arthur, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Bonilla, Hector Luis, Philadelphia, PA 19133, USA
(NPA96, 97b)
Borchardt, Glenn, Director, Progressive Science Institute, Berkeley, CA 94705-0335, USA
Borneas, Prof Dr. Marius, University of Timisoara, Romania
(deterministic
quantum theory; SR valid as well as invalid; +AAAD)
Bosonac, S.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
Boughton, James, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; jwboughton@aol.com
(NPA00)
Bourbaki, Dr. George (Dr. Georg A.
Bruenig), DEng, Patent Attorney, 80798 München, Germany
(1990 cf. Moch)
Branderberger, Doz. Dr. Ing. Heinrich, Germany
(1962 cf. Moch)
Brenner, Myron D., M.D., Pikesville, MD 21208, USA
Brill, Dr. Michael H.,
Sarnoff Corp., Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
(NPA00)
Brinkman, Karl
(1988 cf. Moch)
+Broda, Andrzej, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Brösske, Ludwig
(1931 cf. Moch)
Brown, Dr.
G. Burniston, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8JS, U.K.
(1967 cf. Moch) [main link dead:
search for new url in progress]
Brown, L.F.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Bruno, Thomas
(1933 cf. Moch)
Brute, Adam R., St. Just, nr. Pensance, Cornwall TR19 7HZ, U.K.
(GE)
Buonomano, Prof.
Vincent, Instituto de Matematica, Universade de Campinas, Brazil
(critical
position unknown; listed in Dr. Wesley's Directory)
Cahall, James S. "Scott", Ukiah, CA 95482, USA
(NPA00)
Campbell, John O., North Hills, CA 91343-6310, USA
(Ap98; GE)
Cannata, Giuseppe (*1923), Prof. di Fisica ed Elettrotecnica, Ist. Tecn. Nautici di Trieste e di Palermo, Italy
Capuozzo, Attilio and Marcello, 80038 Pomigliano d'Arco (Na), Italy; urls as for Palmieri
Carpenter, Dr. Donald G., Florissant, CO 80816-9315, USA;
thetopprof@email.msn.com
(NPA00)
Carrell, Mike, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077, USA; mikec@snip.net
+Carroll, Dr. Robert
L., Director, R. L. Carroll Institute, Fairmont, VI, USA
(GE; superluminal)
Carter, James, Absolute
Motion Institute, Enumclaw, WA 98022, USA
(NPA96, 97a,b, 98b, 99,
00, 01)
Castellano, Doc, Simi Valley, CA 93063, USA; phdco@aol.com
Cattaneo, Luciano; urls as for Palmieri
Ceapa,
A.C.V., R-70700 Bucharest, Romania; alex_ceapa@yahoo.com
(NPA00, 01)
Chang, Tsao, formerly professor of physics,University of Alabama, Huntsville, USA
Chelvam, Reginald T., USA
(1982 cf. Moch)
Chernyakov, Sergei, Murmansk 183038, Russia; sergeich@pgi.ru and
sergeich@hotmail.com
(cf. Twain95)
Cherrington, William J., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; fiddletown@mindspring.com
Chiao,
Prof. Raymond Y., Superluminal Physics Research Group, Dept.
of Physics, Univ. of Cal. at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
Comment: Prof. Chiao's group, like that of Prof. Nimtz in Cologne,
Germany, is widely believed to have refuted the TR assumption of c as a limiting
speed and universal constant. This belief, like the establishment interpretation
of TR, ignores that c, both as a limiting speed and a constant, presupposes a
relativistic metric. The experiments in question involve successions of Riemann
spaces the metric of which, even in an ideal case, is completely unknown. These
efforts demonstrate the catastrophic failure in our understanding of the meaning
of quantitative procedures of which the alternative measurement specifications
of TR are only a particularly risible example.
Chu,
Prof. Steven, Chair, Physics Dept., Stanford, CA 94305-4060, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
Claybourne, J. P., 2919 Bronco Lane, Orlando, FL 32822, USA
(GE)
+Coe, Lee (NPA; staunch SR-opponent since 1932), USA
Cohen, H.H.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Collier, Richard M., Clarksville, TN 37040, USA
Collins, Dr. Glen C., P.E., Ste.42-B, Marietta, GA 30067-5309, USA
"Conejo Rojo", Putney, NSW 2112, Australia
Coon, W. Vincent,, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, USA
(GE)
Corbin, Jerry, Phoenix, AZ 85044, USA; jcorbin@primenet.com
Cornille, Dr. Patrick,
C.E.A. Centre de BIII, 91680 Bruyeres le Chatel, France
(GE)
Creasey, Floyd, Richardson, Tx, USA
Crespin, Daniel, Venezuela
Croca, Prof. Doutor Jose Ramalho, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de
Lisboa, Portugal; croca@cc.fc.ul.pt
(Ap97,99) (quantum
physicist; SR valid as well as invalid)
Crotti, Marcelo A.
Cullwick, E.G. (defender of 3D physics), formerly Prof. of Engineering, St. Andrews, U.K.
Cunningham, R. Bruce, Murphys, CA 95247, USA
(NPA96)
Cuny,
Joseph F., Gardena, CA 90247, USA
(NPA02)
Curé, Dr. Jorge C., Delray Beach, FL 33483, USA
(GE; cf. Twain94)
Dahl, Friedrich
(1922 cf. Moch)
Davidson, Dan A.,
RIVAS, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636, USA
(NPA96)
DeBiase, Ray
Deen, Glen, Plano, TX 75025, USA; glen.deen@gte.net
(NPA98b, 99, 00, 01)
de Halleux, Dr. Benoit, Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, Université
Catholique de Louvain, Belgium
(refs)
Dehnen,
Prof. H., University of Konstanz, Germany
(1980 cf. Moch)
Denisov, Prof. Anatoliy A., St. Petersburg Polytechnical Institute, Russia
Dering, J. P., c/o ESJ
Network, Leicester NC 28748, USA
(cf. Twain96)
Derksen, Dipl.Ing., Norbert, D-78464 Konstanz, Germany; Norbert.Derksen@st.siemens.de
+Deutsch, Dr. Daniel H., Pasadena, CA, USA
(GE; NPA97c)
De Witte, Roland (*1953), B-6792 Halanzy, Belgium
Di Mizio, Ivano; urls as for Palmieri
+Dingle, Herbert, Prof. of Natural Philosophy, Imperial College, London, U.K.
Dingler, Hugo
(1921 cf. Moch)
Dinowitz, Stephen, Massapequa Park, NY 11762, USA
(GE)
Dishington, Roland H., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, USA; bd261@lafn.org
(GE)
Dissler, Walter, Dipl. Ing., Sonnewalde, Austria
Dixon, Laurence J., Prof. Em., University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, U.K.
(GE)
Dmitriyev, Valery P., Moscow 117574,
Russia
(Ap00; GE; cf. Twain95); alternative url:
http://pagan.drak.net/rasena/
Doan, John, Footscray, Vic. 3011, Australia
Donnelly, Dr. Rod (Adj. Prof. Eng. & Applied Science), Memorial
University of Newfoundland, Canada
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Doran, Fred, Mississaugo, Ontario L5C 2C5, Canada
Dozier, Robert, Lewisville, TX 75067-3305, USA; bdozier@flash.net
(NPA00)
Drew, Horace R., Putney 2112, NSW, Australia
(Ap97,99)
Dring, Dr. Andrew R., Baltimore, MD 21234-5217, USA; adring@home.com
(GE)
Driscoll, Robert B., (affiliated with Istituto per la Ricerca di Base,
Molise, Italy), Oakland, CA 94604, USA
(GE; NPA96, 97c)
Drury, Prof. David M., Electrical Engineering Department, University of
Wisconsin-Platteville, WI 53818, USA; drury@uwplatt.edu
(GE)
Dufour, Yvon, St. Romuald, Quebec G6W 3S4, Canada; dufour@ibm.net
Dulaney,
Dr. Clarence L., chemist, Missouri City, TX 77489, USA
(NPA97a,c, 98b, 99, 00,
01) (LT invalid)
Dunning, William, Clinton Corners, NY 12514, USA
(GE)
Dürr, Dr. Charles, doctor of law, 6513 Monte Carasso, Switzerland
(1961
cf. Moch)
Durrance, Fred Y., Houston, TX 77024, USA
+Edwards, Dr. J.C., medical doctor & polymath, editor of BASRA, Canada
(NPA96)
Edwards, Matthew R., Science and Medicine Library, University of Toronto,
Ontario, M5S 1A5, Canada; edwards@library.utoronto.ca
(Ap98,99)
Edwards, Walter George, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, USA
Ehlers, Hans-Joachim, Ed. Raum und Zeit, Ehlers Verlag GmbH, 82515 Wolfratshausen, Germany
Elliott, George, Tucson, AZ 85749-9399, USA
Enders, Prof. Dr. Achim,
Institut für Elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit, TU Braunschweig, Germany
(superluminal; cf. Twain94 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Engel, Stew L., Fredericksburg, VA 22401-6011, USA; stew@fls.infi.net
Enzmann, Dr. Robert, Lexington, MA 02173, USA
Epstein, Lewis C., San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
+Essen, Dr. Louis, Bookham, Surrey, UK
Essen, Ray, UK
Fabeni, P.
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Fadner, W.I., Germany
(1988 cf. Moch)
Fahr, Prof. Hans-Jörg Helmut, Department of Astrophysics, Bonn University,
Germany
(1984 cf. Moch)
Faraj, Ali A.
Farmer, Billy L., El Paso, TX 79912, USA
Farsky, Hermann
(1925 cf. Moch)
Fein, Dr. Yochanan, Newtown, CT 06470, USA
Feinberg, Dr. Gerald (*1933), Former Prof. & Chair, Physics Dept.,
Columbia University, NY, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Feist, Norbert, Augsburg, Germany
Feldman, Bernard, Watsonville, CA 95076, USA
+Feltgen, Dr. Reiner, D-37688 Beverungen, Germany
Fernandes, Joaquim, 40233 Porto Codex, Portugal
Fernandez, Fabio, Brazil
+Fernandez, Major John P., Los Angeles, CA, USA
Ferrigno, Antonio,
European Patent Office, 2280HV Rijswijk, Netherlands
(NPA00)
+Fleming, Patrick, Clontarf, Dublin 3, Ireland
Fonda, Roland A., Andrews, NC 28901,
USA
(NPA00)
Fontenot, Michel L., Boulder, CO 80303, USA
(GE)
+Fowler, Shannon, Santa Maria, CA 93455, USA
Fox, Hal, Ed. J. New Energy,
Trenergy Inc., Salt Lake City, UT 84158, USA; halfox@qwest.net
(exNPA; NPA96, 97b, 98b, 99, 00)
(superluminal)
Frey, Paul K., Redwood Valley, CA 95470, USA
Friebe,
Dipl. Ing. Ekkehard (*1927), Regierungsdirektor i.R. (Deutsches Patentamt,
Muenchen), 81737 München, Germany
(1989& cf. Moch)
Fritsch, Dr. Alois, 8600 Bruck/Mur, Austria
Fritzius, Robert S., Starkville,
MS 39759, USA
(NPA96, 98a)
Gaasenbeek, J. L., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Gabuzda,
D.C., National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson, Arizona 85726, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Gaiteri, Lee (a.k.a. Lummox JR)
Galeczki, Dr. George,
51061 Cologne, Germany; nc-galeczge@netcologne.de
(Ap94-00; GE; NPA96, 99, 00) (LT
invalid; -AAAD)
Galeriu, Cãlin, Dept. of Physics, Clark Univ., Worcester, MA 01610, USA;
cgaleriu@clarku.edu
(NPA00)
Gamboa-Eastman, Stephen, San Francisco, CA 94119-1012, USA
(cf. Twain95)
Garrett, C.G.B.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Gartelmann, Henri
(1920f. cf. Moch)
Gatto, Dr. Luis F., Facultad de Ingeneria, U.N.C., 8300 Neuquen, Argentina
(GE)
Gehrcke, Prof. Erich, Germany
(1918 cf. Moch)
Gehrcke,
Prof. Dr. Ernst (1878-1960), Germany
(1920, 1924 cf. Moch)
Geppert, H.
(1923 cf. Moch)
Gerteis,
Martel, Germany
(1984 cf. Moch)
Geruhn, Siegfried
(1988 cf. Moch)
Giakos,
Dr. George C., Biomedical Engineering Dept., University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
Gieskieng, Dave, Arvada, Colorado 80005, USA
Gifford, John F., Corrales, NM 87048, USA
Glasgow, Phillip N., Florence, CO 81226, USA; pas3181@prodigy.net
(NPA00)
Golling, Otto, Germany
Graneau, Neal, Dept. of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1
3PJ, U.K.; neal.graneau@eng.ox.ac.uk
(GE) (+AAAD)
Graneau, Prof. Peter,
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University,
Boston, MA 02115, USA
(NPA97b, 00) (+AAAD)
Grimer, Francis J., Harrow HA3 0DA, U.K.; f.grimer@grimer2.freeserve.co.uk
Gruffat, Dr. Jean-Jacques, 42023 St. Etienne Cedex 2, France; gruffat@emse.fr
Guala-Valverde, Prof. Jorge A., Fundación Julio Palacios- Copade- Comahue
University, 8300-Neuquén, Argentina
(GE)
Gulati, S. P. & S.,India
Gunnufson, Craig,
Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
(NPA96)
Gut,
Dr. Bernardo (1942*), CH 4058 Basel, Switzerland; bernardo.gut@freesurf.ch
(1981 cf. Moch,
NPA96)
Haag, Phil, Mansfield, IL 61854, USA; philhaag1@excite.com
Haedicke, Johannes
(1932 cf. Moch)
Hanks, Craig D.,
Bellingham, WA 98227, USA
alternative url
http://www.acute.com/craig/nettime.htm
Hannon, Robert J., Sarasota, FL 34238, USA
(NPA96, 97c, 98b) (LT
invalid. Engineer. Argues in article, scandalously published in
Physics Essays, that the LT implies x = x'.)
Hansen Jr., John D., Vista, CA 92083 619/599-0700, USA
(GE)
Harms, John K., Garden Valley, CA 95633, USA
Harter, Nolen, Santa Margerita, CA 93453, USA
(NPA97c)
Harris, Lt.-Cdr. Colin (SIS), St. Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 0ND, U.K.
Harvey, Bruce, U.K.
Hatch, Ronald R., Wilmington, CA
90744, USA
(GE; NPA96, 97c, 99, 00, 02)
Hatsagortsian, K.Z.
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Haulman, Dr. Daniel L., Montgomery, AL 36106, USA
Hayden, Dr. Howard C.,
Prof. Em. (Physics Research Group Affiliation Condensed Matter Physics)
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, U.S.A.; Ed., The Energy Advocate
(1996), former Ed., Galilean Electrodynamics
(NPA97b guest speaker
only)
Hazelett, Richard, Colchester, VT 05446, USA; dickha@hazelett.com
(NPA97b,c, 98a, 00, 02)
Hebert, Alvin Joseph, Torrance, CA 90501, USA
Hecht, Andreas, Germany
Hegedu ic, Prof. Mladen
(1986 cf. Moch)
Heinson, Johannes
(1933 cf. Moch)
Heinze, Harald, 5036 Oberentfelden, Switzerland
Heitmann, Dr.
Winfried, II. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Köln, Germany
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Henderson, Robert L., Sun City, AZ 8855351-1163, USA; bobbethend@juno.com and
Bettyj10529@yahoo.com
(GE; NPA96)
Higgins, Prof. Thomas J., Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
+Hill, Charles M.
(GE)
Hille, Helmut (+AAAD), Heilbronn, Germany
Hillion, Dr. P., Institut Henri Poincare, 78110 Le Vesinet, France
(Ap98,99)
Hinton, Douglas, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
Hodges, Dr. James
N., (alternative
url)
Founder-Director, S.J.Prokhovnik Institute (1997), Ether Drift Club,
Melton, Victoria 3337, Australia
(NPA96, 97b, 00)
Hoffman, Jon (dead link: http://user.aol.com/croaker007/relativity.htm)
Höpfner, Ludwig
(1921 cf. Moch)
Hoppe, Helmut, Germany
Horzela, Andrzej, Dept. Theoretical Physics, H. Niewodniczanski Inst. Nuclear
Physics, 31 342 Krakow, Poland
(GE)
Hron, Roland L., Eden Prairie, MN 55347, USA; rhron@aol.com
(NPA99)
Huffman, H. Dwight, Atascadero, CA 93423, USA
Hund,
Prof. Em. Friedrich, Göttingen, Germany
(1980 cf. Moch)
Hunter, Dr. Geoffrey, Dept. of Chemistry, York Univ., Toronto, Ontario, M3J
1P3, Canada; ghunter@yorku.ca
(NPA00)
Illert, Chris (alternative url), Corrimal, NSW 2518 Australia
Ishii, Thomas Koryu
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
Ishiwata, Susumu
Israel, Dr. Hans
(1929f. cf. Moch)
+Jaakkola, Toiko, University of Turku, Finland
(Ap96)
Jansen, Maarten, Netherlands
Jefimenko,
Prof. Oleg D., Dept. of Physics, West Virgina Univ., Eberly Coll. Arts and
Sciences, Morgantown, WV 26506-6315, USA
(GE) (+AAAD)
Jesch, Richard, Richmond, CA 94804, USA; rdjesch@mindspring.com
Johnson, J.F., Roanoke, VA 24014-5720, USA
Johnson, Mike, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
(NPA98b)
Joica, Nicu
Jonson, Jan Olof, 12342 Farsta (Stockhom), Sweden; m56jj6m6@students.su.se
(NPA00, 02)
Jontschow, Th.
(1928 cf. Moch)
Joyce, Dr. Kathleen, former ed., 1978-83, Energy Unlimited, Grand Junction, CO 81502, USA
Jungmann, D., Germany
(1983 cf. Moch)
Kammerer,
E., Germany
(1961, 1986 cf. Moch)
Kanarev,
Prof. Dr. Ph. M., Krasnodar, Russia;
(GE; NPA97b)
Kantor, Wallace, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
Kapuscik, Edward, Dept. Theor. Physics, H. Niewodniczanski Inst. of Nuclear
Physics, 31 342 Krakow; Department of Foundations of Physics, Kracow Pedagogical
University, 30 084, Krakow, Poland
(GE) (-AAAD)
Keller, Hugo
(1924 cf. Moch)
Kelly, Dr. Edward M., Alta Loma, CA 91701, USA
(GE; NPA96)
Kempczynski, Jaroslav, Dept. Theoretical Physics, H. Niewodniczanski Inst.
Nuclear Physics, 31 342 Krakow, Poland
(GE)
Kent, Dr. Richmond, ed., Bulletin of the American Institute of Biomedical Climatology, Chepachet, RI 02814, USA; Mcknightdrone@tp.net
Kerr, Robert, Oro Valley, AZ 85737, USA
Keys, C. Roy, ed., Apeiron, Montreal,
Quebec H2W 2B2, Canada
(NPA00)
Keyser, Charles
Kholmetsky, A.L., Dept. of Physics, Belarus State University, 220080, Minsk,
Belarus
(Ap01; GE)
Kierein,
John, Lafayette, CO 80026 USA
(NPA96, 00)
Kim, Deuk-Soo, 48159 Münster, Germany
(1987 cf. Moch)
Kim, S. H., Dept. of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, TX 76019, USA
(Ap93,94,99)
Kizer, John B., Portsmouth, OH 45662, USA; jkizer@zoomnet.net
[dead link?
http://www.zoomnet.net/~jkizer/abstract3.html]
Knapp, Wolfram, Germany
(1994 cf. Moch)
Kokus, Dr. Martin, Hartline Science Center, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 HSC 98, USA
(NPA00)
Kollgaard, R.I.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Kontrol, John, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
(NPA96)
Kooistra, Jeffery D., Wyoming, MI 48509, USA; dskjdk@excelonline.com
Korneva, M. V., Dept. of Physics, State University of Voronezh, Russia
(GE)
Kosowski, Prof. Stanislaus, 00-849 Warsaw, Poland
Kozuch, Michael E., Chicago, Illinois, USA; mkozuch@earthlink.net
Kraus, Gerhard, Bangkok, Thailand
Kraus, Otto
(1921 cf. Moch)
Kresse, Hugo, Germany
(1975 cf. Moch)
Kressebuch, Hugo, Germany
(1964 cf. Moch)
Kretzschmar, Harry, Ulm, Germany
(1987 cf. Moch)
Krinitzsky, Ellis L., Vicksburg, MS 39180-4552, USA
Kuemmel, Dr. Peter, 70794 Filderstadt-Bernhausen, bei Stuttgart,
Germany
[dead link?: http://www.antigrv.de/Kuemmel/challeng.htm]
Kulba, Leslee A., Farmington Hills, MI 48336, USA
Kuligin, V. A., and G. A., Dept. of Physics, State University of Voronezh,
Russia
(Ap94,96,00;
GE)
Kuper, G.
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Kwiat,
Prof Dr. Paul G., Dept. of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign,
IL 61801-3080, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Lacerda, Carlos B.
Lamberty, Paul
(1925 cf. Moch)
Lange, Erik J.
Laun, Ludwig Wilhelm, Germany
(1992 cf. Moch)
Leal Ferreira, Dr. G. F., Inst. Fisica e Quimica de Sao Carlos, S.P., Brazil;
guilherm@if.sc.usp.br
(GE)
Lebau, Gerald , Boca Raton, FL 33434, USA
Lee, Jeffrey, Mindsight
Publications, Raleigh, NC 27650, USA
(NPA96, 97a,b)
Lessner, David, Claymont, DE 19703, USA
(NPA00)
Lévy, Joseph; josephlevy@compuserve.com
Li, Dr. Wen-Xiu, Dept. of Earth & Space Sciences, Univ. of Science &
Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230029, P.R. China
(Ap95; GE)
Light, Daniel
Lipsius, F.R.
(1931 cf. Moch)
Lipson, S.G.
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Littmann, Carl R., Wyncote, PA 19095, USA
Lounesto, Pertti, Helsinki Institute of Technology, Finnland;
Pertti.Lounesto@hit.fi
[dead link?
http://www.hit.fi/~lounesto/counterexamples.htm]
Love, Dr. Thomas Love, Dept of Physics, California State Univ. at Dominguez
Hills, CA, USA
(NPA96)
+Lu, Prof. Hoff, Dept. of Physics 11, Fu-Dan University, Shanghai, China
Lublinski, Jan
(1994 cf. Moch)
Lucas, Charles W. Jr., Ph.D. Physicist, Temple Hills, MD 20748, USA; charles.w.lucas.jr@census.gov and lucas001@netzero.net
Lumpe, Dr. Heribert, 69412 Eberbach, Germany
Luther, Otto, Germany
(1966 cf. Moch)
Luttgens, Marcel [search for new url of his excellent website in progress]
McAlister, Joe F. and John W., Delray Beach, FL 33444, USA
(GE)
McCarthy, Dennis
J., Norfold, MA 02056, USA;
(GE; NPA97b,c, 99, 00)
McCausland,
Dr. Ian, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M5S 3G4
(NPA96 guest speaker only)
McCone, Alan, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
(GE; NPA02)
McCumber, D.E.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
McCutcheon, Sean, Lexington Park, MD 20653, USA; sean@clark.net
MacDonald, Keith, Manley, Queensland 4179, Australia
(GE)
McKibben, Joseph L., Placentia, CA 922870-77504, USA
(NPA96, 99)
Maco, Emil Andrej,
(1988 cf. Moch)
Macrì, Rocco Vittorio, Assisi, Italy
+MacRoberts, Donald T., Shreveport, LA, USA
(GE)
Majorana, Quirino (1871-1957), Prof., Dept. of Physics, Turin & Bologna; Italy
Malovic, Miodrag, Yugoslavia
Marinov, Dr. Stefan (1931-1997) (1960-74 Ass.Prof. Physics, Sofia University, Bulgaria) Graz, Austria
Marinsek, Johann, 8530 Deutsch-Landsberg, Austria; marinsek@aon.at
(1994
cf. Moch)
Marklin, Dr. George J.,
Sugar Land, TX 77479, USA
(NPA97a)
Markson, John, Sylmar, CA 91342, USA; jmarkso@earthlink.net
Markweger, Robert, Germany
Marlor, Dr. Guy A., San Carlos, CA 94070, USA; guymarlor@aol.com
Marmet, Dr. Paul, Professor of
Physics (retired), Physics Department, University of Ottawa, Ontario KIN 6N5,
Canada
(NPA96, 00)
(SR sometimes valid)
Marquardt, Dr. Peter,
50833 Cologne, Germany
(NPA96) (quantum physics;
LT invalid)
Martin, Adolphe, Longueuil, Quebec J4J 3P9, Canada
(Ap94; NPA00)
Masterson, Capt. J.A., Seattle, WA 98101, USA
(NPA96)
Matveenko, L.I., Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, RU -
117810 Moscow, Russia
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
Means, Dale, San Benito, TX 785866, USA
Meany, David, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA
Mehta, Ardeshir, Ottawa, Canada
Melcher, Prof. Dr. Dr. Horst, Potsdam, Germany
Melehy, Dr. Mahmoud A., Prof. Em. Electrical and Systems Engineering,
University of Connecticut, Scotland, CT 062264, USA; melehy@uconnnvm.uconn.edu
(NPA96, 97b, 98a,
99, 00)
Mellin,
Prof. Robert Hjalmar (1854-1933), Dept. of Mathematics, Technical University of
Finland
(1926 cf. Moch)
Meyl, Prof. Dr. Konstantin, 78112 St. Georgen, Germany
Miller, Michael, Calgary, AB T3G 3T2, Canada
Milnes, Dr. Harold Willis, Editor, Toth-Maatian-Review, Lubbock, TX 79410,
USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Mirabel , I.F.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Misu, Max, Dept. of Physics, University of Kyoto, Japan
Mitis, Lothar
(1931 cf. Moch)
Mitsopoulos, Dr. Theodore D., Athens 15669, Greece
(GE)
Mocanu, Prof. C. I., Head of Electrical Engineering Dept., Polytechnic
Institute of Bucharest, Romania
(GE) (-AAAD)
Moch, Norbert (*1960), 30163 Hannover, Germany
Mohorovicic, Prof. Dr. Stjepan (1890-1980), Dept of Physics, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Molnar, Pal R., 2300 Rackeve, Hungary; pszl.pszi@mail.datanet.hu
(GE; NPA96)
Mongold Harry, Manhattan, IL 60442, USA
Monstein, Dipl.Ing. Christian, 8807 Freienbach, Switzerland; (home:) cmonstein@access.ch and (work:) monstein@astro.phys.ethz.ch
Montanus, Hans
Monti, Dr.
Roberto A., Istituto TESRE - CNR, 40129 Bologna, Italy
(NPA00)
Comment: The webpage mentions the major paper where Dr. M. erects and
refutes from experimental data the strawman according to which the space-time
transform of SR presumes the velocity vector to be c in all systems of
reference. In view of the abysmal poverty of SR logic one despairs at such
'refutations' coming from the highest academic quarters; a typical waste of
critical effort, intimidating by its very learnedness. The defining equations of
SR, in the symbolism customary before the adoption of vector algebra, involve
the scalar norms |ct|, |ct'| only; as is evident from the figurative
representation denoted by these equations, the corresponding displacement
vectors differ in magnitude and, unless y, z, = 0, direction. If t, t' are
scalar, it is clear that, in itself, the quantity c cannot denote a vector. The
mathematical obsession with 4D obscures that a transform of this kind
corresponds to a change of the unit vector, say r0 and r'0, which
must therefore be rendered explicit. The derivatives, moreover, whether scalar,
namely c, or vector, namely cr0 and
cr'0, depend on the basis, namely t or
t'. Depending on the choice of basis, one and the same quantity c refers
therefore to different speeds or velocities.
Morely, Michelson H.
+Morgan, Harvey, USA
(NPA97a, 98b)
Morgan, L. Frank, Newhall, CA 91321-1805, USA
Mugnia, D.
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Müller, Aloys, Germany
(1922 cf. Moch and entry for M. in
http://www1.uni-bremen.de/~kr538/direc2.html)
Müller, Bernd, Redakteur Bild der Wissenschaft, Germany
(1994 cf.
Moch)
Müller, Berthold, Germany
Müller,
Francisco J., Miami, FL 33144, USA
(NPA96, 97b,c, 98a,b, 99,
00, 02)
Müller, Dr. Ing. Martin, D-72793 Pfullingen, Germany;
MM.Pfullingen@t-online.de
(1989 cf. Moch, NPA99, 00, 02)
Munch, Neil E., Pres., Munch Engineering Corp., Montgomery Village, MD
20886, USA
(GE; NPA96, 97b, 98b, 99, 00,
02) (LT invalid.)
Comment: By default, M., an engineer, has come to establish himself as THE star speaker on SR and its maths at NPA and St. Petersburg conferences; also speaker in Bologna and Cologne. Unfortunately, precisely because the LT is, indeed, not the correct solution of the given mathematical problem, efforts of this kind are counter-productive. Not only are they at best completely useless for those unwilling or unable to study existing expositions; more seriously, they are ignored by professionals like Prof. Bartocci and serve to bring the community of critics into disrepute. (I have sent a protest to conference organizers who should know better. In the present dissident climate it is, of course, anathema to question the value of conference rhetoric.)
For M. is insensible of
1. the meaning of learned mathematical jargon;
2. the constraints upon symbol use;
3. the confusion of at least three different algebras (3D displacements; 4D quadratic-hyperbolic - Minkowski&Poincaré; 4D linear Klein-Noether translation&rotation);
4. the operationalist fallacy (here: the wholly illicit contention that geometric quantities depend on who looks at what where and when).
Tortuously circular operations, involving fictitious elements 'seen', from a profound ignorance of the meaning of mathematical terms and symbols, and a confused notion that the Lorentz factor g refers to the ratio between different displacements. Supervenient on the direction-dependent scale transformation, the factor denotes, of course, the paradoxically reciprocal ratio between equal displacements; see below.
Múnera,
Héctor A., Centro Internacional de Fisica, Bogota, DC Colombia;
hmunera@latino.net.co
(NPA00)
Munshi, Jamal, USA
Nedwed, Dr. Rudolf, 60200 Brno, Czech Republic
(1964 cf. Moch)
Neiswander, Dr. Robert S., Cambria, CA 93428, USA
(GE; NPA96)
Nerad, Dr.
Ludek, 28911 Pecky, Czech Republic
(GE)
Neundorf, Wolfgang, D - 03054 Cottbus, Germany
Newman, Steve, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
Nimtz, Prof Dr. Günter,
II. Phys. Inst. Univ. Köln, Germany
(superluminal; cf. Twain94 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
See the comment to the entry Chiao.
Nisle, Robert G., CDR USNR (Ret), Idaho Falls, ID 83404, USA
(NPA00)
Noninski, Prof. Dr. Vesselin C., New York, NY 10011, USA
Nordberg, John T., c/o FUGIO, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-2458, USA
Nowak, Karl, Dipl. Ing., Vienna, Austria
O'Barr, Gerald L.
Öberg, Rickard, Sweden
Obolensky,
Alexis Guy (alternative
url),
Natural Energy Institute, Sloatsburg, NY 10974, USA; a3go@mjet.com
(NPA00)
Ofner, Peter F., Medlow Bath, NSW 2780, Australia; ofnerp@ozemail.com.au
(NPA96, 97b) (LT
invalid)
Oldani, Richard, Clymer, NY 14724, USA
(NPA98b, 99, 00, 01)
(quantum physics; SR valid)
Oliveira Jr., O. N., Instituto de Fisica e Quimica de Sao Carlos,
Universidade de Sao Paulo, 13560-970 Sao Carlos, S.P., Brazil
(GE)
Oliwa, Chris, Scarborough, Ontario M1V 5M3, Canada
Oman, Dr. Henry, ed., Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine [IEEE], Seattle, WA 98166, USA
Onoochin, Dr. Vladimir, Russia
Orefice, Prof. Adriano, Universita di Milano, Italy
Orlov, Walter, Germany
Ott, Edwin Eugene, USA
[dead link: search for new url in progress] Owen, Bill, Brigalow Park, Urunga, NSW, Australia 2455
Owen Sr., William H., Marrickville, NSW 2204, Australia; smog@ozemail.com.au
Page, Dr. Geoffrey, Fareham, Hants PO14 4LE, England
Pagels,
Kurt, Germany
(1985& cf. Moch)
(Mathematician. Typical anti-SR argument: LT mathematically valid, but
physics an inexact science.)
Palka, Henry, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
(NPA00)
Palmieri, Renato, Italy;
alternative url:
http://repalmi.supereva.it/
Panarella, Dr. Emilio, Editor, Physics Essays, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada
Pappas, Dr. Panos T. (former Professor,
Dept. of Physics, Division of Mechanics), 11744 Athens, Greece
(superluminal, space-theorist)
+Parshin, Prof. Pavel Fyedorovich (Head of Dept. of Physics, Academy of Civil
Aviation, St. Peterburg), Russia
(GE)
Patschke, Arthur
(1922 cf. Moch)
Pavlovic, Milan R., Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Pazdernik, Dr. LeRoy, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Pazzi, G.P.
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Pearce, Frank G.
Pearson,
Timothy J., California Inst. of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
Peczi, Gusztáv
(1923 cf. Moch)
Pellegrini, Gerald, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
(NPA00)
Peshchevitskiy, Prof. Boris Ivanovich, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry,
Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
(GE)
Petrascheck, Dr. Karl Otto
(1922 cf. Moch)
Phipps Jr., Dr. Thomas E., Urbana, IL 61801, USA; tephipps@home.com
(GE; NPA97c) (superluminal,
+AAAD)
Pine, Robert, Rosharon, TX 77583, USA
(NPA00)
Pobedonostsev, Dr. Lev A., Radium Institute, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia
(GE)
Popal, Azimullah, Van Nuys, CA 91401, USA
Post, Dr. Evert Jan, Westchester [Los Angeles], CA 90045-3357, USA;
Evertpost@aol.com
(GE; NPA00, 02)
Power, Desmond
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Preikschat,
F. K., Germany
(1976 cf. Moch)
Preußker, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst, D-25469 Halstenbek, Germany
(cf. Twain95)
Pugh, M. Lee,
Coffeyville, KS 67337, USA
(NPA97b)
Rado, Steven, Los Angeles, CA
90035, USA
(NPA96,
97c, 00)
Raiford, Dr. Maurice T., Oviedo, FL 32762, USA; mtr@physics.ucf.edu
Ranfagni, A.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Rath, Sashibhusan, West Singhbhum, Bihar 833223, India
(NPA97b)
Reber, Grote, Bothwell, Tasmania 7030, Australia
(NPA96, 99)
Rebigsol, Cameron
Y. (Cameron Wong), San Francisco, Ca 94116, USA
(NPA00)
Reising, Martin, Germany
(1987 cf. Moch)
Renshaw, Curtis E.,
Tele-Consultants, Inc., Alpharetta, GA 30005, USA
(GE; NPA96, 97a,b, 98a, 99)
Richter, Dr. Gustav
(1931 cf. Moch)
Riem, Johannes
(1920f. cf. Moch)
Roberts, D.H.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Roderlich-Stoltheim, F. (pseud. f. Theodor Fritsch)
(1921 cf. Moch)
Rodrigues Jr., Dr. Waldyr
A., Institute of Mathematics (IMECC), UNICAMP, Brazil
(NPA00)
Rodriguez, Luis F.,
Instituto de Astronomia, UNAM, Campus Morelia, Mexico
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Rodriguez, Miguel (graduate student of Prof. Spavieri), Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
Romano, Benedetto, 80040 San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Italy; urls as for Palmieri
Romero, Ferdinand, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Roos, Jan P., Burlington, MA 01803, USA; actionatt@aol.com
(NPA00)
Ropiequet, Richard L., Estacada, Oregon, USA
Röschlau, Dr. rer. nat., Helmut, Germany
(1981 cf. Moch)
Rosen,
Alexander, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Univ. of Alabama (Tuscaloosa), USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Rosignoli, Carlo, White Plains, NY 10601-1101, USA; carloros@erols.com
Rosignoli, David, Langhorne, PA 19047, USA; drdaveor@enter.net
Ross, Cecil
Rovinetti, Ercole, Denham Springs, LA 70726, USA
Rowbottom, Darrell
Rowe, Dr. Paul E., Mashpee, MA 02649, USA; rowepaul@gis.net
(NPA97b, 00)
Ruckhaber, Dr. Erich
(1931 cf. Moch)
Rudakov, Dr. N., P.O. Box 723, Geelong, Victoria 3213,
Australia
(cf. Twain95)
Ruderman,
Malvin A., Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Rudzinski, K.
(1971 cf. Moch)
Rybczyk, Joseph A.
Rynne, T. M., c/o ESJ
Network, Leicester NC 28748, USA
(cf. Twain96)
Saha, Jnan R., Wesley Hills, NY 10952-5227, USA
Salongo, Paul, San Diego, CA 92126, USA; boodybum@aol.com
Sandgathe, Franz
(1928 cf. Moch)
Santilli, Prof. Dr. Ruggero M., ed.,
Hadronic Journal; President, Institute for Basic Research, Palm Harbor, FL
34682, USA
(NPA97b,c)
Sapper, Prof. Dr. Karl, Graz, Austria
(1939, 1952-58 cf. Moch)
Saumont, Dr. Rémi, 92160 Antony, France
Sauvé, Vincent, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
Schmidt,
Dr. Wolfgang, 67433 Neustadt, Germany
(1983& cf. Moch)
Schneider, Horst, 03096 Burg/Spreewald, Germany
Schön, Manfred, 1050 Wien S, Austria
Schuh, Bernd
(1993 cf. Moch)
Schulz, Dr.-Ing. Jürgen, A-9544 Feld-am-See, Kärnten, Austria
Schumacher, Dr. Berthold W., Dearborn, MI 48126, USA
(GE)
Schuster, Friedrich, 97762 Hammelburg, Germany
(1989 cf. Moch)
Seavey, Craig M.
Seitz, A.
(1925 cf. Moch)
Sekerin, Dr. Vladimir Illich, Novosibirsk, Russia
Selleri, Prof. Franco,
Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
(NPA00, 02) (4D
alternatives to LT; -AAAD)
Sereno, Dr. Giano, 83000 Toulon, France; gemenos@aol.com
Seto, Ken H., Ireland
(GE); cf. Twain97)
(This comment applies to all aether objections to SR. These objections,
however learned, miss the point and confuse the issue. A relativistic transform
establishes formal invariance provided there exists one isotropic scenario,
regardless whether ballistic or aether-based: that is why SR is believed to have
settled the matter. The objection should have been, first, that the purely
formal-symbolic invariant transform would be geometrically useless because
inapplicable - direction-dependent time-units - and second, that the LT is not
even the correct solution of the simple if silly 'problem'.)
+Sherwin, Dr. Chalmers, San Diego, CA, USA
Shifman, Jerry, The Sea Ranch, CA
95497, USA
(NPA02)
Shimmin, William "Lee",
Houston, TX 77055-6933, USA; lee.shimmin@waii.com
(GE; NPA96, 98b, 01)
(anti-relativity; SR invalid)
Shpitalnaya, Dr. Alexandra A., St. Petersburg Oberservatory, Russia
Siepmann, Dr. James P., ed. Journal of Theoretics, Oshkosh, WI 54904, USA
Silliman, Norman, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-2808, USA; silliman@ccnet.com
(NPA96)
Silvertooth, Dr. E.W., Olga, WA 90279, USA
(GE)
Slaughter, Wilbur, Redlands, CA 92373-0121, USA
Smid, Thomas, UK
Smith, Adolph E., Santa Cruz, CA 95060-2345, USA; adolph@cruzio.com
Smith, Peter, Long Ashton, Bristol BS18 9DA, U.K.
(GE)
Smulsky, Prof. Joseph J., Institute of Earth Cryosphere, Tyumen, Russia
(superluminal)
Solomon, Dr. Robert D., Framingham, MA 01703, USA
Spavieri, Gianfranco, Prof. Dr. (*1942), Centro de Astrofísica Teórica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
Speicher, Stephen, California Inst. of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Spinò, Salvatore; urls as for Palmieri
Squires, Euan
J. (1933-1996), Dept. of Physics, University of Durham, UK
(superluminal;
cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Sternglass, Dr. Ernest, Pittsburg, PA
15213, USA
(NPA00,
01)
Stettler, John, Royse City, TX 75189, USA
(NPA00, 02)
Stilmar, Robert L., Midvale, UT 84047, USA; stilmarb@cs.com and
fenthunt@cs.com
(GE; NPA97b, 98b, 99, 00, 01)
Strasser, Hans
(1923 cf. Moch)
Strehl, K.
(1922 cf. Moch)
Strel'tsov,
Dr. V. N., Laboratory of High Energies, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research,
Dubna, Moscow Region 141980, Russia; strlve@sunhe.jinr.ru
(Ap98,99; NPA00) (4D LT valid, but
implies stretching, not contraction)
Sungenis Robert, USA
Surin, Yury Y., St. Petersburg, Russia
Szabo, Charles, 1600 Sint Pieters Leeuw, Belgium
Szego, Laszlo, Bondi, NSW 2026, Australia
(NPA96, 97b)
Tarter, Donald E., New Market, AL 35761, USA; dethlw@aol.com
Tedenstig,
Ove, S-19 551 Märsta, Sweden
(GE)
Templeman, Garth
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Teppo, Karl, Mermaid Waters 4218, Queensland, Australia
+Theimer, Walter, Germany
(1977& cf. Moch)
Theocharis, Dr. Theo (*1952) (formerly of Department of Physics, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London), London, U.K.
Thompson, Caroline, UK
Tipnis, Sharad, Adarshnagar, Pune Satara Road, Pune 411 037, India
(1985
cf. Moch)
Tiwari, S. C., Dept. of Physics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005,
India
(Ap92)
(+AAAD)
Todoroff, Georg,
Dipl.-Mathematiker (*1949), D-78068 Bad Dürrheim, Germany
("Toderoff" 1987
cf. Moch)
Tolchel'nikova-Murri, Dr. Svetlana A., Pulkovo Observatory, 196140 St.
Petersburg, Russia; mchubey@gao.spb.ru
(GE)
Tombe, Prof. F. David, Belfast BT15 5HU, Northern Ireland, U.K.
(GE)
Traunmueller, Hartmut, S-187-70, Taby, Sweden
+Trempe, Jacques, Otterburn Park, Quebec J3H 1P9, Canada
(Ap90)
Turner, Dr. Dean, Greeley, CO 80634, USA
Turner, William B., Palm Beach FL 33480-4109, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain97)
Tuttle, Robert J., Moorpark, CA 93021-1349, USA
Twain, Millennium, USA
Twiss, Frank, Sammamish, WA 98075, USA; ftwiss@halcyon.com
(GE)
VanderByl Sr., Leo, Abbotsford, B.C. V4X 2J4, Canada
van der Merwe, Prof. Alwyn J., Editor: Foundations of Physics, and: Foundations of Physics Letters, Physics & Astronomy Department, Denver, CO 0208, USA
Van Dromme, Leo, B 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Van Engen, Randall
Van Flandern, Dr. Thomas, Senior
Research Associate, Dept. of Physics, University of Maryland; ed.: Meta Research
Bulletin, Chevy Chase, MD 20825, USA
(NPA97b, 98a, 00)
Vigier, Jean-Pierre, Institute Henri Poincaré, Paris, France
(superluminal; cf. Twain
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
von Gleich, Gerold
(1930 cf. Moch)
Vrana, Ralph, Concord, CA 94519, USA
Waage, Victor M., Duluth, MN 55806, USA
Wagner, Dan, Wynnewood, PA 19096, USA
(GE)
Wählin, Lars, Director, Colutron Research Corp., Boulder, CO 80301, USA
+ Waldron, Prof. R. A., Prof. of Mathematics, University of Ulster, U.K.
Walker, Fred L., Monterey CA 93940, USA; WalkerFLJr@aol.com
(NPA96, 98b, 00)
Walker, Nancy, Bryans Road, MD 20616-3264, USA
+Wallace, Dr. Bryan G., St. Petersburg, FL 33710, USA
Walte, W.
(1921 cf. Moch)
Walton, G. (Mrs.) (*1930) (expelled fr NPA), 18 St. Swithun Street, Winchester SO23 9JP, U.K.; sapere.aude@btinternet.com
Wang, Ruyong, Cloud
State Univ., St. Cloud, MN 56301, USA
(NPA02)
Wang, Shi-Ming, Institute of Nuclear Research, Academia Sinica, Shanghai,
China
(GE)
Wardle, Prof.
John F.C., Dept. of Astrophysics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95 and
FTL/LNSTrefs.html)
Wasl, Bernd, 56567 Neuwied-Segendorf, Germany
Watson, Dr. John, Battle, E. Sussex, TN33 9BN, U.K.
Weber,
Charles, Hendersonville, NC 28739, USA
(NPA00, 02)
Wehr, Günther, Germany
(1980 cf. Moch)
Weinmann, Dr. Rudolf
(1921f. cf. Moch)
Weiß, Herbert, Germany
(1991 cf. Moch)
Weitzel, Donald F., Winnetka, CA 91306, USA
(GE)
Wesley, Dr. J.
Paul, 78176 Blumberg, Germany
(GE) (Global Dissident
Physics Survey)
Westergard, Billie, Hockessin, DE 19707, USA; westerb@udel.edu
Weyland, Paul
(1921 cf. Moch)
Whitney, A.R.
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
+Wilczynski, Dr. Jozef, Wroclaw, Poland
Wilhelm, Prof. E.H., Prof. Em., Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering,
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
(Ap92,93,94; GE)
Winterberg,
Prof. Dr. Friedwardt, Desert Research Institute, Dept of Physics, Univ. of
Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0058, USA
(NPA98b, guest speaker
only)
Wolff, Theodor
(1932 cf. Moch)
Wong, S. Simon, Professor of
Electrical Engineering, Center for Integrated Systems, Stanford University,
Stanford, CA 94305-4070, USA
(superluminal; cf. Twain95)
Wright, James B., Yreka, CA 96097, USA; jbwright@snowcrest.net
(NPA97c, 00)
Wu, W. H., Markham, Ont. L3R 3R6, Canada; wuxian@shaw.wave.ca or samwoole@home.com
Wutke, Andrzej, Mount Kuring, Gai, Australia; andrewpw@acay.com.au
[dead
link? http://members.optusnet.com.au/~andreww/relativity.html]
Wyse, Alastair, U.K.
Xu Shaozhi, Dr. (alternative url),
Beijing Control Device Research Institute, P.R. China; caiwt@sun.ihep.ac.cn
(Ap93,97; GE; NPA96, 97b) (LT invalid)
Yi, Yong-Gwan, Dobong-dong Dobong-ku, Seoul 132-012 Korea; yyg_kr@hotmail.com
(Ap96,99) (-AAAD)
Yost, Charles A., ed. Electric Spacecraft Journal, Leicester, NC 28748, USA
+Zapffe, Dr. Carl A.
(GE)
Zboril, I.
(1925 cf. Moch)
Zins, Steven Douglas, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Simplistic philosophical notions, ignorant of the role, purely logical nature and difficulty of quantification, have given rise to the false belief that SR and GR are theories. GR, not formulated by Einstein, trivially, applies an alternative geometry - as shown by measurements, one not remotely understood by practising physicists. SR, emerging long before Einstein, successively spells out the implications of the mathematical discovery (the LT) that a purely geometric transformation of the auxiliary ('time') scale [such that |OiP| = |cti|] renders all geometric quantities reciprocally contracted (N.B.: an uncaused dynamic effect - if true, rightly regarded as of world-shaking philosophical significance). This remarkable result was contemporaneous with the paradoxical Cantor-Peano proofs, the Frege-Helmholtz-Husserl caution as to the unknowable 'behaviour' of large (finite!) numbers, and the revolutionary Lorentz-Poincaré proposition that we may assume equal (sic) displacements, e.g. x' and (x - vt), to differ by a so-called Lorentz factor.The LT, first formulated in Goettingen, is a forerunner of the increasingly sophisticated algebras that have become the norm in theoretical physics. (Regrettably, Felix Klein's History Vol.2, a source text without equal, blueprint for space-time transforms to date, has apparently never been translated.) It might have been noticed that neither this algebra, valid for numbers only, nor the Lorentz-FitzGerald notion of contraction, is applicable to the displacements of the geometry of motion, i.e. of physics. In addition, one might have recognized that, for the explictly defined geometric scenario, the LT and all formulae derived from it are self-contradictory and therefore unverifiable; the waste of resources on confirming or refuting the SR phantom is inexcusable. Asynchronous clocks, furthermore, are common in ordinary usage; changes of the time scale or clock rate are therefore as basic as changes from Fahrenheit to Celsius, or from inches to metres. Objections from physics and ontological considerations (e.g. nature of space, time) serve to distract attention from the scandal that the LT is not the correct solution of an utterly simple geometric problem. That the correct solution would not be practical is beside the point; the real difficulty - for a subject like physics that depends on the validity of its quantification procedures - is that the LT is accepted as impeccable even by virtually all critics of SR.
What of Einstein? In defence of pars 1&2 of the celebrated 1905 paper R.B. Angel writes that Einstein cannot mean what he appears to be saying. Surely, if in doubt one turns to the mathematical exposition which would mercylessly expose any shoddy thinking. Friends (e.g. Fritz Stern) and admirers (the 1967 BBC documentary) comment on Einstein's illogicality and singular lack of the critical faculty. Jacques Barzun warns that Einstein's fêting as genius exposes the entire scientific community to contempt. Not surprisingly, the crucial pars 3-5 of the 1905 paper are not only incoherent but grossly so; equally unsurprisingly, the genius appears unaware that all supposedly dynamic effects would necessarily be reciprocal. (The much acclaimed 'deep' insight into the frame-independence of the laws of physics appears singularly feeble-minded. The independence had been guaranteed in classical physics by the 'Galilean' correction for the change of origin; it has been ABOLISHED in SR.) Why does one keep mulling over Einstein's sayings?
One enters the 'debate' with dismay. The acceptance of the LT as mathematically valid, and the quality of existing objections, signal an incompetence beyond belief. The requisite 'algebra', intuitively tackled by every infant, is summarized in sufficient detail at the start of every maths textbook for engineers; people who have not mastered this elementary stage of common sense cognition should not be doing physics. With great reluctance, I present a sketchy discussion of expositions in page 2.
Note: Checking on a source revealed a discrepancy which, apart from deleting the offending item, I have solved by the wholesale demotion of all quotations to the status of summaries.The reciprocal effect of length contraction and time dilation, which appears by logical necessity to emerge from the kinematic part of the special theory of relativity, has been variously explained as
1. true but not really true (guess who)
2. real
3. not real
4.
apparent
5. the result of the relativity of simultaneity
6. determined by
measurement
7. a perspective effect
8. mathematical.
Here is a small selection from the literature; references are found at the end of Part 2. Unless placed in quotation marks, authors' assessments are summarized.
1. Effects are true but not really true:
Pride of place goes to Eddington [1928, 33-34]:
"The shortening of the moving rod is true , but it is not really
true."
(Thanks to Prof. I. McCausland, Toronto, for contributing this
gem.)
2. Effects are real:
Arzelies [1966, 120-121]:
The Lorentz Contraction is a Real Phenomenon. ...
Several authors have
stated that the Lorentz contraction only seems to occur, and is not real. This
idea is false. So far as relativistic theory is concerned, this contraction is
just as real as any other phenomenon. Admittedly ... it is not absolute, but
depends upon the system employed for the measurement; it seems that we might
call it an apparent contraction which varies with the system. This is merely
playing with the words, however. We must not confuse the reality of a phenomenon
with the independence of this phenomenon of a change of system. ... The
difficulty arises because we have become accustomed to the geometrical concept
of a rigid body with a definite shape, whatever the measuring system. This idea
must be abandoned. ... We must use the term "real" for every phenomenon which
can be measured ... The Lorentz Contraction is an Objective Phenomenon.
...
We often encounter the following remark: The length of a ruler depends
upon its motion with respect to the observer. ... From this, it is concluded
once again that the contraction is only apparent, a subjective phenomenon. ...
such remarks ought to be forbidden.
Krane [1983, 23-25]:
It must be pointed out that time dilation is a real effect that applies not
only to clocks based on light beams but to time itself. All clocks will run more
slowly as observed from the moving frame of reference. ...
The length
measured by the moving observer is shorter. It must be emphasized that this is a
real effect.
Matveyev [1966, 305]:
The dimensions of bodies suffer contraction in the direction of motion ... A body is, therefore, "flattened" in the direction of motion. This effect is a real effect ...
Møller [1972, 44]:
Contraction is a real effect observable in principle by experiment. It expresses, however, not so much a quality of the moving stick itself as rather a reciprocal relation between measuring-sticks in motion relative to each other. ... According to relativistic conception, the notion of the length of a stick has an unambiguous meaning only in relation to a given inertial frame. ... This means that the concept of length has lost its absolute meaning.
Pauli [1981, 12-13]:
We have seen that this contraction is connected with the relativity of simultaneity, and for this reason the argument has been put forward that it is only an "apparent" contraction, in other words, that it is only simulated by our space-time measurements. If a state is called real only if it can be determined in the same way in all Galilean reference systems, then the Lorentz contraction is indeed only apparent, since an observer at rest in K' will see the rod without contraction. But we do not consider such a point of view as appropriate, and in any case the Lorentz contraction is in principle observable. ... It therefore follows that the Lorentz contraction is not a property of a single rod taken by itself, but a reciprocal relation between two such rods moving relatively to each other, and this relation is in principle observable.
Schwinger [1986, 52]:
Each will observe the other clock to be running more slowly. This is an objective fact. It is not a property of clocks but of time itself.
Tolman [1987, 23-24]:
Entirely real but symmetrical.
3. Relativistic effects are not physically real:
Taylor & Wheeler [1992, 76]:
Does something about a clock really change when it moves, resulting in the observed change in the tick rate? Absolutely not! Here is why: Whether a clock is at rest or in motion ... is controlled by the observer. You want the clock to be at rest? Move along with it. ... How can your change of motion affect the inner mechanism of a distant clock? It cannot and it does not.
4. Relativistic effects are apparent:
Aharoni [1985, 21]:
The moving rod appears shorter. The moving clock appears to go slow.
Cullwick [1959, 65, 68]:
[A] rod which is at rest in S' ... appears to the observer O to be contracted ... Similarly, a rod at rest in S will appear in S' to be contracted....
Jackson [1975, 520]:
The time as seen in the rest system is dilated.
Joos [1958, 243-244]:
The interval appears to the moving observer to be lengthened. A body which appears to be spherical to an observer at rest will appear to a moving observer to be an oblate spheroid.
McCrea [1954, 15-16]:
The apparent length is reduced. Time intervals appear to be lengthened; clocks appear to go slow.
Nunn [1923, 43-44]:
A moving rod would appear to be shortened. An interval is always less than measured by the other observer.
Whitrow [1980, 255]:
Instead of assuming that there are real, i.e. structural, changes in length and duration owing to motion, Einstein's theory involves only apparent changes, and these are independent of the microscopic constitution and hidden mechanisms controlling the structure of matter. [Unlike]... real changes, these apparent phenomena are reciprocal.
5. Relativistic effects are the result of the relativity of simultaneity:
Bohm [1965, 59]:
When measuring lengths and intervals, observers are not referring to the same events.
French [1968, 97],
Rosser [1967, 37],
Stephenson & Kilmister [1987,
38-39]:
Measurements of lengths involve simultaneity and yield different numerical values.
6. Relativistic effects are determined by measurements:
Schwartz [1972, 113]:
Each observer determines distances to be foreshortened.
7. Relativistic effects are comparable to perspective effects: Rindler [1991, 25-29]:
Moving lengths are reduced, a kind of perspective effect. But of course nothing has happened to the rod itself. Nevertheless, contraction is no illusion, it is real. Moving clocks go slow, a 'velocity-perspective' effect. Nothing at all happens to the clock itself. Like contraction, this effect is real.
8. Relativistic effects are mathematical:
Eddington [1924, 16-18]:
The connection between lengths and intervals are problems of pure mathematics. A travelling clock gives a low reading.
Minkowski [1908, 81]:
[The] contraction is not to be looked upon as a consequence of resistances in the ether, or anything of that kind, but simply as a gift from above, - as an accompanying circumstance of the circumstance of motion.
Rogers [1960, 496]:
Thus we have devised a new geometry, with our clocks and scales conspiring, by their changes, to present us with a universally constant speed of light.
Angel, R.B., Relativity: The Theory and its Philosophy, Oxford: Pergamon, 1980. (Highly recommended.)
Arzelies, H., Relativistic Kinematics, Pergamon, Oxford, 1966.
Bergmann, P. G., Introduction to the Theory of Relativity, (1942), Dover, 1976.
Bohm, D., The Special Theory of Relativity, W.A. Benjamin, New York, 1965.
Cullwick, E.G., Electromagnetism and Relativity, 2nd ed., Longmans, London, 1959.
Durrell, C.V., Readable Relativity, Bell, London, 1931. (By a leading British mathematician; standard text for older British mathematics teachers.)
Eddington, A.S. The Mathematical Theory of Relativity, 2nd ed., CUP 1924.
Eddington, A. S., The Nature of the Physical World , 1928, CUP / MacMillan (NY).
Einstein, A., "On the Relativity Principle and the Conclusions Drawn from it", (1907), Collected Papers, Princeton U.P., 1989, Vol.2 (Ppb), 252-311.
id., "Ether and the Theory of Relativity" (1920), in Sidelights on Relativity, Dover, 1983, 3-24.
id., The Meaning of Relativity, (1921), Chapman & Hall, London, 1967.
id. Relativity: The Special and the General Theory, 15th Ed. (Methuen 1960) Routledge, London, 1993.
French, A.P., Special Relativity, Chapman & Hall, London, 1968.
Goldstein, H., Classical Mechanics, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading: Mass., 1980.
Gray, J., Ideas of space, OUP, 1979.
Jackson J.D., Classical Electrodynamics, 2nd ed., John Wiley, New York, 1975.
Joos, G., Theoretical Physics, (1934), 3rd ed., Blackie, London, 1958.
(Klein, see 2)
Krane, K.S., Modern Physics, J. Wiley, New York, 1983.
Liebeck, H., Algebra for Scientists and Engineers. London: Wiley, 1969. (Relativistic 'proofs' by pure mathematics approach, by distinguished British mathematician.)
McCrea, W.H., Relativity Physics, 4th ed., Methuen, London, 1954.
Matveyev, A., Principles of Electrodynamics, Reinhold, New York, 1966.
Mermin, N.D., Space and Time in Special Relativity, Waveland Press, Prospect Heights: Ill., 1968.
Miller, A.I., Albert Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, Addison-Wesley, Reading: Mass., 1981.
Minkowski, H., Gesammelte Abhandlungen, ed. D. Hilbert, 1911; 1967 reprint: NY: Chelsea.
Minkowski, H., "Space and Time" (1908), in H.A. Lorentz et al., The Principle of Relativity, Dover, 1952,75-91.
Møller, C., The Theory of Relativity, 2nd ed., OUP 1972.
Nunn, T.P., Relativity and Gravitation, University of London Press, 1923.
Oppenheimer, J.R., Lectures on Electrodynamics, Gordon & Breach, New York, 1970.
Pauli, W., Theory of Relativity (1921), Dover 1981.
Rindler, W., Introduction to Special Relativity, 2nd ed., Clarendon, Oxford, 1991.
Rogers, E.M., Physics for the Inquiring Mind, Princeton U. P. 1960.
Rosser, W.G.V., Introductory Relativity, Butterworths, London, 1967.
Russell, B., ABC of Relativity, Fourth revised Edition, Unwin Hyman, London, 1985.
Schwartz, M., Principles of Electrodynamics, McGraw Hill, New York, 1972.
Schwinger, J., Einstein's Legacy, Scientific American Library, New York, 1986.
Shadowitz, Albert, Special Relativity (W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1968), Dover 1988. (4D).
Silberstein, L., The Theory of Relativity, MacMillan, London, 1914.
Stephenson, G., & Kilmister, C.W., Special Relativity for Physicists (1958), Dover, 1987.
Taylor, E.F., & Wheeler, J.A., Spacetime Physics: Introduction to Special Relativity, 2nd ed., W.H. Freeman, New York, 1992.
Tolman, R.C., Relativity Thermodynamics and Cosmology (1934), Dover, 1987.
Whitrow, G.J., The Natural Philosophy of Time, 2nd Ed. OUP 1980.(Compulsory reading for critics writing on 'time'.)
2.2.2. The road to perdition: the philosophical and
mathematical background
(What to include or leave out is a headache; the list is under construction. Comprehensive contemporary bibliographies are found in German texts such as Janisch, Pulte or Schiemann here listed; I omit authors, such as Mach, discussed by Bunge.)Albert, A.A., Introduction to Algebraic Theories. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1942.
Anton, H., Calculus with analytic geometry. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1980. (One typical example of the large standard literature on basic mathematical concepts for engineers.)
Barzun, J., The House of Intellect. London: Secker & Warburg, 1959. (On the fêting of Einstein's genius.)
Berberian, S.K., Linear Algebra. Oxford Science Publications, 1992.
Bôcher, M., Introduction to Higher Algebra. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1907.
Cahan, D., (ed.) Hermann von Helmholtz and the Foundations of Nineteenth-Century Science. Berkeley etc.: 1994.
Cohen, I.B., Revolution in Science. Cambridge etc.: 1985.
Cooley, H.R., et al., Introduction to Mathematics: A Survey Emphasizing Mathematical Ideas and their Relations to other Fields of Knowledge. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1937.
Dickson, L.E., Linear Algebras. New York: Hafner Publishing Co., 1914.
Erdmann, B., Die Axiome der Geometrie. Eine philosophische Untersuchung der Riemann-Helmholtz'schen Raumtheorie. Leipzig: 1877.
Freudenthal, H., Mathematics as an Educational Task. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1973.
id., Revisiting mathematics education. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1991.
Gray, Jeremy & Moore, Gregory H. (dispute about the relevance of logicism & formalism), Historia Mathematica 23 no 4 (Nov. 1996) and 24 no 2 (May 1997).
Jacobi, C.G.J., ed. Pulte, H., Vorlesungen ueber analytische Mechanik. Wiesbaden: 1996.
Jammer, M., Concepts of Space. Cambr.,Mass: Harvard University Press, 1954.
Janisch, P. (Editor of the German journal Philosophia Naturalis), "Voluntarismus, Operationalismus, Konstruktivismus. Zur pragmatischen Begruendung der Naturwissenschaften." in Stachoviak, H. (ed.), Pragmatik: Handbuch des pragmatischen Denkens (5 vols). Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1997, vol. 2, 232-256.
Hill, Ch., Intellectual Origins of the English Revolution. Oxford University Press, 1965.
Kattsoff, L.O., A Philosophy of Mathematics. Ames: The Iowa State College Press, 1948.
Kirchhoff, G., Ueber das Ziel der Naturwissenschaften. Heidelberg: 1865.
- , Mechanik. 2nd. ed. Leipzig: Teubner, 1877.
Klein, F., Vorlesungen über die Entwicklung der Mathematic im 19.
Jahrhundert.
I. Teil (pure mathematics), 1926, Berlin: Springer.
II.
Teil (mathematical physics), 1927, id. (including 4D SR)
-, Elementary mathematics from an advanced standpoint.
Pt.1:
Arithmetic, Algebra, Analysis. 3rd ed., 1924. Engl.tr.: NY Dover (undated).
Pt.2: Geometry. 3rd ed. 1939, London: MacMillan.
Koenigsberger, L., Hermann von Helmholtz' Untersuchungen ueber die Grundlagen der Mathematik und Mechanik. Heidelberg: 1895.
Kreider, D. L., et. al., An Introduction to Linear Analysis. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1966.
Lakatos, I., Philosophical Papers. 2 vols. Cambridge: 1978.
MacFarlane Smith, I., Spatial Ability: Its Educational and Social Significance. London University Press: 1964. (On the the danger to the nurture of skills of non-verbal reflection by the rise to dominance of the "Western culture of articulacy".)
Maxwell, J.C., Matter and Motion. London: 1876 (Dover, 1991).
Price, M., Mathematics for the Multitude? London: The Mathematical Association, 1994. (See Ch.3 for literature on the history of operationalist mathematics.)
Pulte, H., 'Conceptions of applied mathematics in Germany in the first half of the 19th century' (1996). Available from author: Institut fuer Philosophie, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, Postfach 102148, D-44780 Bochum 1, Germany. (Comprehensive bibliography.)
Pyenson, L., The Young Einstein. Bristol: A. Hilger, 1985.
Riemann, B., Ueber die Hypothesen, welche der Geometrie zugrunde liegen. (1867). Darmstadt: 1959.
Roe, J., Elementary Geometry. OUP: 1993.
Russell, B., The Principles of Mathematics. London: Routledge, 1992.
-, An Essay on the Foundations of Geometry. London: Routledge, 1996.
Schiemann, G., Wahrheits-Gewissheitsverlust: Hermann von Helmholtz' Mechanismus im Anbruch der Moderne. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1997.
Tall, D. (Ed.), Advanced Mathematics. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1991. (Concedes the importance of visualization.)
Torretti, R., Philosophy of Geometry from Riemann to Poincaré. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1978.
van der Waerden, B.L., A History of Algebra. Berlin: Springer, 1985.
-, Gruppen von Linearen Transformationen. (Springer, 1935), Chelsea reprint 1948.
Watson, W.H., Understanding Physics Today. Cambridge University Press: 1963.
Whitehead, A.N., A Treatise on Universal Algebra. (1898). New York: Hafner,1960.
-, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Natural Knowledge. C.U.P.: 1919.
-, The Concept of Nature. C.U.P.: 1920.
Whitrow, G.J., The Natural Philosophy of Time. 2nd Ed. OUP 1980.
Young, J.W., Lectures on Fundamental Concepts of Algebra and Geometry. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1911.
Gottlieb Heinz Wolowicz (alias Henry G. Walton) 1922 - 1985,
and his parents,
Mendel Wolowicz * Lodz 1875, + Frankfurt/M. 1939 as a victim of police torture,
Amalie neé Triwaks * Berlin 1885, 'verreist', last heard of in Theresienstadt 1943.
Unfortunately, the dedication must be qualified. For the fate of the European citizens classified under Nazi law as "Jews" is being used as a cloak for gross Israeli human rights violations. Let the playwright Tony Kushner speak for Jewish citizens of all countries, not only America:
"I am an American and a Jew, and as such I believe I have a direct responsibility for the behaviour of Americans and Jews. I deplore suicide bombings and the enemies of the peace process in the Palestinian territories and in the Arab and Muslim world. I deplore the brutal and illegal tactics of the Israeli Defence Forces in the occupied territories. I deplore the occupation, the forced evacuations, the settlements, the refugee camps, the whole shameful history of the dreadful suffering of the Palestinian people; Jews, of all people, with our history of suffering, should refuse to treat our fellow human beings like that." (London Times, Viewpoint Interview, 7 May 2002)For links to Jewish protests against Israel's zionist ideology go to Jews against Zionism
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Responsible for content: G. Walton, Winchester, U.K.
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