The Physical Interpretation of Special Relativity

Abstract

It is suggested that the astronomical evidence of the last sixty years presents us with a new cosmological imperative—the existence of a unique and observable fundamental reference frame for light propagation. It is shown that the existence of such a frame offers an intelligible physical interpretation of special relativity in terms of the anisotropy effects associated with motion relative to the fundamental frame. It is further suggested that this “realist” view of special relativity offers the possibility of a realist interpretation of quantum mechanics; in particular, it resolves a number of problems arising in John Bell’s discussion of such an interpretation.