Alien101
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- TL;DR Summary
- Einstein's field equation G_μν = 8πG T_μν appears to establish a clear causal relationship: matter-energy (T_μν) determines spacetime curvature (G_μν).
The Fundamental Causality Problem:
In General Relativity, matter follows geodesics determined by the metric, which means spacetime geometry determines matter distribution. This creates a circular causality: geometry determines matter motion → matter motion determines stress-energy → stress-energy determines geometry.
How can Einstein's equation be truly "causal" when both sides are mutually determining each other? Is this circular dependency a fundamental flaw, or does it reveal something deeper about the nature of spacetime?
In General Relativity, matter follows geodesics determined by the metric, which means spacetime geometry determines matter distribution. This creates a circular causality: geometry determines matter motion → matter motion determines stress-energy → stress-energy determines geometry.
How can Einstein's equation be truly "causal" when both sides are mutually determining each other? Is this circular dependency a fundamental flaw, or does it reveal something deeper about the nature of spacetime?