It occurs to me that the definition of 'force fields', such as
gravitational fields, is circular. When we ask "what is a force field?",
we are told that it is a region of spacetime where some or other material
object experiences a force. And when we ask "how/why does an object
experience a force in some region of spacetime?", we are told that it is
due to the presence of a force field.
But what is a force field "really"? In order to exert a force (whether
pushing or pulling) on material objects, a force field needs logically to
be the effect of some or other real, physical "goings on". But what? Do
we have a mechanical, causal explanatory account of what a force field
"actually" is?
More particularly, how can I understand (without ultimately appealing to
some or other Einsteinian "spooky action at a distance") how, in the case
of gravity for example, one physical object can remotely 'pull' another?
To pull something, don't we need a line with a hook on the end?
I am familiar with Einstein's explanation in terms of warped spacetime; but
as far as I can tell, that is just an instrumentalist account, with little
causal explanatory power. Is there a better explanation?
Many thanks,
Tibor Molnar
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Tibor G Molnar tel: 61 2 9130 3963
Brainwaves Information Services mob: 61 2 (0)41 041 2963
P.O. Box 2 @1: info@brainwaves.com.au
Bondi NSW 2026 @2: george963_au@yahoo.com.au
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