Taking up Space: The Case of the Ether

Votsis, Ioannis (2024) Taking up Space: The Case of the Ether. HAPP 10th Anniversary Commemorative Volume, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2877. ISSN 1742-6596

Abstract

In this paper, we obtain some methodological lessons in theory construction and modification (generally called ‘theory choice’), using the ether as a test case. We focus on this posit both because it has a long history but also because it is associated with some spectacular theories and theorists. In view of the fact that the ether has been expunged from contemporary science, we ask why it survived as long as it did, whether its discussion was a waste of space, and where we do go from here. The last of these questions concerns not just the ether but also similar posits currently in circulation or those that will enter circulation in years to come.

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Official URL:	https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-65...
Item Type:	Article
Disciplines:	Humanities > Philosophy
Depositing User:	Ioannis Votsis
Date Deposited:	10 Dec 2024 14:41
Last Modified:	10 Dec 2024 14:44
URI:	https://nul.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/2312

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• Taking up Space: The Case of the Ether. (deposited 25 Oct 2024 10:32)
  • Taking up Space: The Case of the Ether. (deposited 10 Dec 2024 14:41) [Currently Displayed]

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