sapere aude: page three

Critics' arguments: foundations, authoritarianism, special relativity

Contents:
1. Directories
2. Challenging the foundations:
2.1. The geometry of movement
2.2. Two worlds: Ideas vs things
2.3. Policing the desire to understand
2.4. Objections to SR that ignore the mathematical background

1. Directories (A-Z by author):

A. Ferrigno: Heretic Hall (under construction).
http://www.geocities.com/antonioferrigno/link.html

Ekkehard Friebe: Fremde Abhandlungen
http://www.ekkehard-friebe.de/fremde-abhandlungen.html

Andreas Hecht: Borderlands of Science. (Indiscriminate, but plenty of useful links missing elsewhere.)
http://www.borderlands.de/physics.php3

Robert Markweger: Gegner der Relativitaetstheorie.
http://members.aon.at/markweger/Geg.htm

Wolfgang Neundorf: Einige interessante Links.
http://www.neundorf.de/Links/links.html

2.Challenging the foundations:

2.1. The geometry of movement

I collect here objections that include mathematical arguments. Unfortunately, critics ignore the support of SR by mathematicians (among Einstein's contemporaries, e.g., Russell, Minkowski, Klein) and content themselves with the often grotesquely inept selections found in the physics literature. The LT of the mathematicians solves a set of equations in four variables; the well-known contradictions and difficulties of interpretation arise because this 4D LT is blindly accepted as the solution of a completely different (farcically simple) geometric problem. (Namely: Let the origin of system S' be shifted along the x=axis such that |OO'|=vt. Let |OP|=ct, |O'P|=ct'; find the ratio t'/t, where t, t' not coordinates but auxiliary variables - hence 3D; the much mulled over t'-function is never available. N.B.: evidently, not also |OO'|=vt'). Both the acceptance of the 4D LT as a solution of the 3D problem, as well as the inability of critics to recognize the elementary error, make all professions involved in the "debate" (physics, mathematics, philosophy) a laughing stock for all time.

(PDF) Asquith, P.R.: Einstein’s Logical Errors.
http://www.wbabin.net/physics/asquith2.pdf

(PDF) Vukelja, Aleksandar: "Mathematical Invalidity of the Lorentz Transformation and Relativity".
http://www.wbabin.net/physics/vukelja1.pdf

2.1.2. The conventional LT

Arteha, Dr. Sergey N.: The Lorentz Transformations
(Ch. 1.4 of his book, also listed below, Criticism of the Foundations of the Relativity Theory).
http://www.antidogma.ru/english/node12.html

Comment: Dr. A. assumes the LT to describe two objects: this is a misinterpretation of the mathematical exposition of SR kinematics. In accordance with SR, his equation 1.4 gives the coordinates, in terms of the variables of a second coordinate system, of any point on the (one and only) sphere about O with radius ct.

Comment applicable to the following entries only:

The entire literature of SR physics is devoted to the inevitable contradictions that arise in consequence of the 4D/3D confusion. Nothing would therefore be gained even by correctly expressing these contradictions in quantitative terms; even then the claim of having thus demonstrated the mathematical invalidity of the LT would completely misjudge the case.
Critics expose themselves to the danger of revealing their own misconceptions. For instance, Lange and Rebigsol erroneously claim that the LT presupposes x = ct, x' = ct', and that therefore the case of x' = 0 when x = vt establishes the invalidity of the LT (see my page2).

Lange, Erik J.: Proof of the falsity of the Special Theory of Relativity.
Comment: L.'s widely admired discussion illustrates the grotesque hopelessness of critical exertions. His symbolic rendition of the spherical propagation in SR, elaborately 4D, rests on the nonsensical assumption that points - "signals" - are restricted to the x-axis!
http://www.physics.semantrium.com/relativity.html

Rebigsol, Cameron: Mathematical Invalidity of Relativity.
http://members.aol.com/crebigsol/section1A.html

2.2. Two worlds: Ideas vs things

I list here efforts to reclaim common sense, and to break out of the vicious circle that has resulted from the failure to distinguish between abstractions (basic concepts of perceptual analysis - measure, extension, time - or concepts of mathematics - quantity, variable, dimension, space), on the one hand, and physical phenomena, on the other.

Hille, Helmut: Messen als Erkenntnisakt.
http://www.helmut-hille.de/lt5.html

Miller, Michael: Causality, Measurement and Space.
http://www.quackgrass.com/space.html

See also Time, Clocks and Causality.
http://www.quackgrass.com/time.html

2.3. Policing the desire to understand

2.3.1. Critics' pages:

Dissler, Walter: Geistige Invalidität: Führt der Glaube an Einsteins Relativitätstheorie zu einer gewissen Art geistiger Invalidität?
http://www.ekkehard-friebe.de/Dissler.htm

Essen, Dr. Louis: Relativity.
http://www.btinternet.com/~time.lord/Relativity.html

(This page can often be got faster by pasting the url into the address bar rather than by clicking the link.)
Relativity: Joke or Swindle? (1988 Article in Electronics & Wireless World, with comment by Michael Roll of The Campaign for Philosophical Freedom)
http://www.cfpf.org.uk/articles/scientists/essen/essen.html

Galeczki, Dr. G. & Marquardt, Dr. P. "EPPUR SI MUOVE" - "Und sie bewegt sich doch!"
http://www.helmut-hille.de/galeczki.html

English version (excerpt) "EPPUR SI MUOVE" - Between Instrumentalism and Realism.
http://www.helmut-hille.de/realism.html

See also: Authors' reply: Der "Verriss" oder "Irrte Einstein" to review of their book, 1997 in PM.
http://www.solidaritaet.com/fusion/1998/2/einstei1.htm

and Authors' Gegendarstellung (Excerpt).
http://www.solidaritaet.com/fusion/1998/2/einstei2.htm

Munshi, Jamal: Dishonest deceptions. (Subsection on Einstein: "In our time, Einstein has replaced Newton as the monarch of physics. Einstein's disciples tend to crush all opponents...")
http://www.ekkehard-friebe.de/dishones.htm

Rado, Steven: Manifesto for Critics of Modern Physics.
http://www.wgn.net/~srado/Manifesto.html

Santilli, Prof. Dr. Ruggero M.: "Call to Contain Ethical Decay in Physics".
http://d1002391.mydomainwebhost.com/JOT/Editorials/Vol-2/e2-3.htm

Schmidt, Dr. Wolfgang: Die natürliche Selektion der Theoretischen Physiker (in German).
http://www.ekkehard-friebe.de/SCHMIDT.HTM

Theocharis, Dr. T.: What is "Episteme"? The Meaning of "science" and "truth".
http://itis.volta.alessandria.it/episteme/ep4/ep4th1.htm

Van der Togt, Carel: Incompetent Science.
http://www.paradox-paradigm.nl/incompetent%20science.htm

(PDF) Zifeng, Li et al.: The Essence of Special Relativity and Its Influence on Science, Philosophy and Society.
(2007 paper publ. in Scientific Inquiry.)
http://www.iigss.net/Scientific-Inquiry/Dec07/7-Li-1.pdf

2.3.2. Orthodoxy

The establishment Credo: "Special relativity is one of the best-confirmed theories in history. ... Conservatives dislike Einstein because he was a Jew. ... Opposition to relativity for politico-cultural reasons and opposition to relativity as a legacy of anti-semitism are usually inextricably mixed." (Brad DeLong)

2.4. Physical and logical objections to SR - A-Z by author

These objections unfortunately ignore the root of the crisis of modern physics of which SR is merely the most conspicuous symptom, namely the neglect of epistemological questions that attend developments in quantitative treatment ("mathematics").

Arteha, Dr. Sergey N.: Criticism of the Foundations of the Relativity Theory. (Superb exposition, rendered especially forceful by the linguistic clash.)
http://www.antidogma.ru

Boersema, Jos: Disproving Relativity.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~joshb/disproof.html

Brown, Dr. G. Burniston: What is wrong with relativity?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/academ/whatswrongwithrelativity.html

(PDF) Cahill, Prof. Reginald T.: The Einstein Postulates 1905-2005: A critical Review of the Evidence.
http://www.scieng.flinders.edu.au/cpes/people/cahill_r/HPS24.pdf

Cantrell, William H., Ph.D.: A Dissident View of Relativity Theory.
http://www.infinite-energy.com/iemagazine/issue59/adissidentview.html

(PDF) Ceapa, Dr. A.C.V.: Coordinate System at Absolute Rest in Einstein’s Special Relativity Theory.
http://www.journaloftheoretics.com/Articles/4-5/CS.pdf

De Witte, Roland: Einstein's theories of relativity critic (A Collection of papers).
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/webster.kehr/DeWitte/critic.htm

(PDF) Deyssenroth, Hans: Fehlinterpretation in der Speziellen Relativitätstheorie? Skalierungsfehler beim Zwillingsparadoxon.
http://www.ekkehard-friebe.de/Fehlinterpretation.pdf

Dulaney, Dr. Clarence L. (Links to Articles).
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/clarencedulaney/index.html

Ferrigno, Antonio: Einstein's Light Postulate: A Matter of Convention?
http://www.geocities.com/antonioferrigno/npameating.html

See also: pagina di relatività (in Italian).
http://www.geocities.com/antonioferrigno/itrelativita.html

(PDF) Lang, Manfred: "Die logischen Fehler der Relativitätstheorie". Vortrag bei der "Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Physik e.V." am 20.09.2003
http://home.arcor.de/gruppederneuen/Seiten/Publikationen/Lang%20Fehler%20d%20Relativit%E4tstheorie.pdf

Larson, Dewey B.: Where We Stand: Mathematically (Ch.3 of "Reciprocal System").
http://www.reciprocalsystem.com/nlst/nlst03.htm

(PDF) Li, Dr. Wen-Xiu: On the Relativity of Lengths and Times.
http://redshift.vif.com/JournalFiles/Pre2001/V02no1PDF/V02N1WEN.PDF

(PDF) Marinsek, Johann: "The Special Theory of Relativity - A Confused Thought-Experiment". (St. Petersburg conference 1994)
http://www.marinsek.com/files/spec.pdf

Marklin, Dr. George J.: Articles on Relativity and the Ether.
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/mluttgens/marklin1.htm

Marmet, Dr. Paul: Links to books and papers.
http://www.newtonphysics.on.ca/

Mehta, Ardeshir: The ABC of Relativity. (A collection of articles.)
http://homepage.mac.com/ardeshir/Relativity.html

Morely, Michelson H.: On Accounting for electromagnetic Phenomena, in re: The Theory of Relativity (A series of papers).
http://www.classicalreality.net/

Müller, Francisco J.: (An experimental refutation.)
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Deneb/muller.htm

Renshaw, Curtis E.: (SR: Papers and references.)
http://renshaw.teleinc.com/

Rykov, Dr. Anatoly V.: Crash of relativity after Lorenz–Einstein.
http://www.worldspace.narod.ru/en/articles/lor_e/lor_e.html

Sampson, Terry M.: Albert Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity.
http://home.att.net/~anti-relativity/Einstein1.htm

Smid, Thomas: Physics Myths and Physics Facts: Flaws in Concepts and Theories of Modern Physics - Special Relativity.
http://www.physicsmyths.org.uk/index.html#specrel

Tedenstig, Ove: EINSTEIN'S THEORY OF RELATIVITY: A BRIEF ANALYSIS.
http://www.newphys.se/teden/Tedenstig/EINSTEIN%27S%20THEORY%20OF%20RELATIVITY%20A%20BRIEF%20ANALYSIS%20941211

Zweig, Dr. Hans: RELATIVITY UNRAVELED.
http://www.aquestionoftime.com/index.htm