Changes

:My understanding of the Lorentz theory is that it is equivalent to SR, but needs some fussing to get it equivalent to GR.  Once that is done, it seems that the appropriately fussed Lorentz theory is equivalent, so you can say that "Einsteinian relativity has no aether, and Lorentz theory has an aether, but there is no experiment you can do to measure anything about it."

:My understanding of the Lorentz theory is that it is equivalent to SR, but needs some fussing to get it equivalent to GR.  Once that is done, it seems that the appropriately fussed Lorentz theory is equivalent, so you can say that "Einsteinian relativity has no aether, and Lorentz theory has an aether, but there is no experiment you can do to measure anything about it."

:If this turns out to be the situation, you might say something like "both theories are equivalent, so this doesn't make relativity wrong; it just makes Lorentz theory just as good."  And remember, you are rebutting claims that relativity is wrong, not that there are no other equivalent theories.

:If this turns out to be the situation, you might say something like "both theories are equivalent, so this doesn't make relativity wrong; it just makes Lorentz theory just as good."  And remember, you are rebutting claims that relativity is wrong, not that there are no other equivalent theories.

:As far as the question of whether scientists prefer relativity for reasons of faith, my guess would be that relativity is simpler, because it doesn't postulate the existence of something that is completely unnecessary.  I have no idea about people's reasons beyond that.  MY guess is that it's Occam's razor.  I've never met anyone who embraces the Lorentz theory, and can't find an explanation of it in any of my textbooks or encyclopedias.

:As far as the question of whether scientists prefer relativity for reasons of faith, my guess would be that relativity is simpler, because it doesn't postulate the existence of something that is completely unnecessary.  I have no idea about people's reasons beyond that.  My guess is that it's Occam's razor.  I've never met anyone who embraces the Lorentz theory, and can't find an explanation of it in any of my textbooks or encyclopedias.

:[[User:SamHB|SamHB]] 23:37, 31 January 2012 (EST)

:[[User:SamHB|SamHB]] 23:37, 31 January 2012 (EST)