On the symmetries of electrodynamic interactions

HERNAN GUSTAVO SOLARI; NATIELLO, MARIO A.

Science & Philosophy

Iris

Año: 2022 vol. 10 p. 1 - 34

2282-7765

The development of relational electromagnetism after Gauss appearsto stop around 1870. Maxwell recognised relational electromagnet-ism as mathematically equivalent to his own formulae and called foran explanation of why so different conceptions have such a largepart in common. We reconstruct relational electromagnetism guidedby the No Arbitrariness Principle. Lorenz’ idea of electromagneticwaves, together with the “least action principle” proposed by Lorentzare enough to derive Maxwell’s equations, the continuity equation andthe Lorentz’ force. We show that there must be two more symmetriesin electromagnetism: a descriptive one expressing source/detector re-lations, and another relating perceptions of the same source by de-tectors moving with different (constant) relative velocities. The Poin-caré group relates perceived fields by different receivers and Lorentzboosts relate source/detector perceptions. We answer Maxwell’s philo-sophical question showing how similar theories can be abduced usingdifferent inferred entities. Each form of abduction implies an inter-pretation and a facilitation of the theoretical construction.