Wk Date Topic Reading Due Discussion Questions
1 30 Sep Principles of Relativity Preface / Lecture 1
Further Reading: Einstein (1905), "On the electrodynamics of moving bodies", Norton, Einstein's pathway to special relativity, and Brown vs Norton on how thought experiments work.		 DQ-1
2 7 Oct Simultaneity Lecture 2.1 and 2.2
Optional: Cosmic Rays and Is special relativity paradoxical? Newton's views on space, time and motion, Newton's General Scholium, Pooley (2012) Substantivalist and relationalist approaches to spacetime		 DQ-2
3 14 Oct Spacetime Lecture 3.1, 3.2, Philosophical Morals (parts 6-7 only), and Curtis and Robson (2016) "Incompatibility"
Further Reading for Essays:
 		DQ-3
4 21 Oct Verificationism and E=mc2 Lecture 4.1 and 4.2 (Section 3 only, Verificationism), and 4.3
Optional:
 DQ-4
Choose a Topic for Formative Essay 1
5 28 Oct Curvature Lecture 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Optional: 4D Spacetime, Miegakure, Euclidean geometry, Spaces of constant curvature		 DQ-5
6 4 Nov Reading Week (No Lecture)
7 11 Nov Gravity Lecture 6.1, 6.2
Optional: Einstein's pathway to general relativity		 DQ-6
Formative Essay Due: Mon, 11 Nov by 3pm
8 18 Nov Time travel and Geometry Lecture 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 (Conventionality of Metrical Geometry only)
Optional:
 		DQ-7
Choose a Topic for Summative Essay 1
9 25 Nov Big Bang Cosmology Lecture 8.1 and 8.2
Optional: Gödel, 'A remark about the relationship between relativity theory and idealistic philosophy', Stephen Hawking: Must there have been a big bang? and The Earth vs The Universe Scale 		DQ-8
10 2 Dec Black Holes Lecture 9.1 and 9.2
Optional: Curiel and Bokulich, "Singularities and Black Holes", Roberts, "Notes on notes on holes"		 DQ-9
11 9 Dec Einstein's Pathway Lecture 10.1 and 10.2
Optional: Norton, 'Why thought experiments do not transcend empiricism', Brown, 'Why thought experiments transcend empiricism', and Einstein as the Greatest of the Nineteenth Century Physicists		 DQ-10
Summative Essay 1 Due: Mon, 9 Dec by 3pm
LT Summative Essay 2 Due: Fri, 6 Jan by 3pm