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Work #327 · Mid-late

Gravitation

John Archibald Wheeler
1973 · English
Graduate physics textbook · 20th-century theoretical physics / philosophy of physics

"MTW" — the canonical graduate-level textbook of general relativity, by Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Gravitation (Mid-late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Relational
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Relational
Space · Curvature Curved
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Non-conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Gravitation

Relational spacetime time — depends on reference frame.

Space

Gravitation

Curved spacetime — gravity as geometric structure.

Matter

Gravitation

Mass-energy as source of spacetime curvature.

Observer

Gravitation

The physical observer in a reference frame.

Energy

Gravitation

Mass-energy equivalence; conservation in physical interactions.

Information

Gravitation

Lawful structure of spacetime physics.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Gravitation

The relation between general relativity (MTW's subject) and quantum mechanics remains unresolved; the search for "quantum gravity" continues.