慣性の相対性とマッハ原理 : 一般相対性理論の形成過程をめぐって

Abstract

In the process of forming the general theory of relativity, demands of the theoretical principle play an important part, and these are regarded as the basis that the general theory of relativity is a relativistic theory of space and time, combined with Einstein's philosophical reference. However, historically speaking, the general theory of relativity was not constructed on some theoretical stipulations in a consistent way, but rather it went through some shifts of them. So by scrutinizing these shifts, we may clarify the actual process of the theory's construction. In this paper, we pay attention to two ideas, "the relativity of inertia" and "Mach's principle, " which are not regarded as a theoretical principle of the general theory of relativity nowadays. And we will try to give an answer to the following questions: (1) why Einstein thought that "Mach's principle" was important as a theoretical principle when the general theory of relativity completed, (2) why he thought "Mach's principle" was related to what Ernst Mach claimed, and (3) what is the idea which was called "the relativity of inertia." Making these ideas clear contributes to solve some confusions on the foundation of the general theory of relativity.