Abstract
Although Einstein frequently discussed the problem of the theoryexperiment relationship, it has gone almost unnoticed by Einstein scholars that, in his papers, this problem is presented in the form of a search for criteria for the attribution of physical significance to the concepts of Relativity and Unified-Field theories, i.e. in the form of a stipulation of meaning.
Einstein confronted this problem beginning with his early approaches to Special Relativity in 1905 and, until his last years, he never ceased to search for possible solutions. Thus, problems concerning the “stipulation of meaning” interweave all of Einstein’s methodological discussions on General Relativity and its generalisation into the Unitary-Field theories. In these discussions, Einstein often came in touch with the methodological views of mathematical physicists such as Weyl, Eddington, Levi-Civita, et al.
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D’agostino, S. (1995). Einstein’s Life-Long Doubts on the Physical Foundations of the General Relativity and Unified Field Theories. In: Garola, C., Rossi, A. (eds) The Foundations of Quantum Mechanics — Historical Analysis and Open Questions. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 71. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0029-8_15
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