Herbert Dingle and "Science at the Crossroads"

TL;DR

This paper critically examines Herbert Dingle's critique of special relativity, distinguishing between its experimental foundations and philosophical interpretations, and discusses the importance of scientific impartiality and ethics.

Contribution

It clarifies the scientific core of special relativity and critiques Dingle's philosophical stance and attitude towards the theory.

Findings

Distinction between the mechanics of Lorentz transformations and philosophical interpretations

Support for the experimental validity of special relativity

Advocacy for scientific impartiality and ethical conduct

Abstract

In this article we pay tribute to Herbert Dingle for his early call to re-assess special relativity from philosophical and logical perspectives. However, we disagree with Dingle about a number of issues particularly his failure to distinguish between the scientific essence of special relativity (as represented by the experimentally-supported Lorentz transformations and their formal implications and consequences which we call "the mechanics of Lorentz transformations") and the logically inconsistent interpretation of Einstein (which is largely based on the philosophical and epistemological views of Poincare). We also disagree with him about his manner and attitude which he adopted in his campaign against special relativity although we generally agree with him about the necessity of impartiality of the scientific community and the scientific press towards scientific theories and opinions as well as the necessity of total respect to the ethics of science and the rules of moral conduct in general.