Galileo's principle of equivalence and the pragmatic nature of language

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Ann Danick
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On one hand we have A. Einstein's statement -restating Galileo - that gravitational and inertial forces are of a similar nature and often indistinguishable. In short, this means that the mass of a spinning top is the same whether it is lying on a table or free falling from a 10 story building. (also check astronaut Dave Scott dropping a feather and hammer on the moon -

On the other hand we have J.L. Austin's most known work, that tells us "How to Do Things with Words". He is literally saying that words have a pragmatic effect, it's not just about saying something. By saying "Put the book on the table", you are accomplishing many acts. among which, the demonstration of your will to have the book /on/ - not under, or by-side - the table, your polite inclination towards the other person - you are not saying "Put the book on the table, dammit" - and you are instructing the other person how to proceed - instructions always carry with them a relation of power, or who is instructing and who is being instructed.

Either the spinning top atop a table or the book instruction, in both there is a "gravity", or in other words, they are not just doing nothing.

"Put the book on the table" consists not only on the words being said. There is someone who wants the book to be put on the table and someone who should put it there. The forces of why or why not should the second person act according to the first are also expressed in the phrase - at least "I command you to put the book on the table" is not being said.

A spinning top lying on a table consists not only on a spinning top and a table. The top has a mass, which means that gravitational geometry is still being acted upon it, and so are action/reaction forces.

Galileo and Austin were able to see fundamental functions where other people saw nothing. Inertia or "just words" people would say. But there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.


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