Dr Bryan Roberts LAK 5.03

This course is available on the MSc in Economics and Philosophy, MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy, MSc in Philosophy of Science and MSc in Philosophy of the Social Sciences. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

There are no prerequisites for this course; it is accessible to students of all backgrounds.

Does the universe have an edge? Is time travel possible? What is a black hole, and should we be worried about experiments at the LHC creating them? The modern theory of spacetime introduced by Einstein provides a precise framework in which to ask these questions. This course makes their analysis accessible to everyone.

Students will have the opportunity to engage with Einstein's theories of relativity, to use them to analyse philosophical problems, and to examinetheir philosophical and practical implications. The topics of the course will include: 1) Relativity: Slowing clocks, shrinking rods, and the relativity of simultaneity; 2) Spacetime: Thinking in 4-dimensions, faster-than-light travel, and other philosophical issues; 3) Non-Euclidean thinking: Beyond the geometry of Euclid, measuring curvature, gravity as curved spacetime; 4) Cosmology: Our place in the universe, big bang cosmology, time travel; 5) Limits of space and time: Geometry, black holes, singularities.

Students will learn to apply these conceptual tools to the analysis of space, time and gravity, as well as to formulate and argue for their own perspectives on the philosophical implications of relativity theory. One is often faced with unsubstantiated declarations about the implications of Einstein's theories, by both scientists and non-scientists. This course will equip non-scientists with the conceptual tools needed to critically analyse these claims for themselves.

Einstein for Everyone requires absolutely no background in physics or maths. Students are only required to learn two equations, which really cannot be omitted: E=mc^2, and Einstein's equation! Students with a background in physics will also benefit from the unique conceptual development and philosophical analysis of this course.

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT.

One essay outline. Weekly problem sets and short discussion questions submitted through Moodle and for review in classes.

Weekly readings will all be made available to students on Moodle. Indicative readings include: Norton, John D. (2015) Einstein for Everyone. Hugget, Nick. (2010) Everywhere and Everywhen: Adventures in Physics and Philosophy (excerpts). Einstein, Albert (1920) Relativity: The special and general theory (excerpts). Euclid (1908) The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements, Vol I (excerpts). Poincaré, Henri (1905) Science and Hypothesis (excerpts).

Exam (67%, duration: 2 hours) in the LT week 0.
Essay (33%, 1500 words) in the Week 11.