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On the relation of free bodies, inertial sets and arbitrariness

Solari, Hernán G. and Natiello, Mario LU (2021) In Science & Philosophy - Journal of epistemology, science and philosophy 9(2). p.7-26
Abstract
We present a fully relational definition of inertial systems based in the No Arbitrariness Principle, that eliminates the need for absolute inertial frames of reference or distinguished reference systems as the ``fixed stars'' in order to formulate Newtonian mechanics. The historical roots of this approach to mechanics are discussed as well. The work is based in part in the constructivist perspective of space advanced by Piaget. We argue that inertial systems admit approximations and that what is of practical use are precisely such approximations. We finally discuss a slightly larger class of systems that we call
``relatively inertial'' which are the fundamental systems in a relational
view of mechanics.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
relationism, constructivism, Newtonian Mechanics, inertial frames
in
Science & Philosophy - Journal of epistemology, science and philosophy
volume
9
issue
2
pages
20 pages
ISSN
2282-7757
DOI
10.23756/sp.v9i2.669
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7042eccf-caf1-4c68-8d98-25b133c97002
date added to LUP
2022-01-15 10:28:19
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:37:32
@article{7042eccf-caf1-4c68-8d98-25b133c97002,
  abstract     = {{We present a fully relational definition of inertial systems based in the No Arbitrariness Principle, that eliminates the need for absolute inertial frames of reference or distinguished reference systems as the ``fixed stars'' in order to formulate Newtonian mechanics. The historical roots of this approach to mechanics are discussed as well. The work is based in part in the constructivist perspective of space advanced by Piaget. We argue that inertial systems admit approximations and that what is of practical use are precisely such approximations. We finally discuss a slightly larger class of systems that we call<br/>``relatively inertial'' which are the fundamental systems in a relational<br/>view of mechanics.}},
  author       = {{Solari, Hernán G. and Natiello, Mario}},
  issn         = {{2282-7757}},
  keywords     = {{relationism; constructivism; Newtonian Mechanics; inertial frames}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{7--26}},
  series       = {{Science & Philosophy - Journal of epistemology, science and philosophy}},
  title        = {{On the relation of free bodies, inertial sets and arbitrariness}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.23756/sp.v9i2.669}},
  doi          = {{10.23756/sp.v9i2.669}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}