The Geometrisation of Physics, and its Supposed Basis on the Michelson-Morley Experiment

Abstract

SO much has been written about the Michelson-Morley experiment that it would be needless to refer to it here, had it not been interpreted by philosophic writers in an interesting but over-violent and, as some think, illegitimate manner. Historically it really does lie at the root of the remarkable attempt which is being made to geometrise physics, and to reduce sensible things like weight and inertia to a modification of space and time. The work of great Geometers has been pressed into the service, and a differential-invariant scheme of expression has been utilised to do for physics in general, and especially for gravitation, what Maxwell's equations did for electric and magnetic forces. The prominent merit of these equations is that they replace any apparent predilection for forces acting at a distance, by explicit recognition of a modified medium (or at least a modified space) in contact with the accelerated particle.