Conventionality and Relationality in Relativistic Space-Time

Abstract

The actual information concerning the geometric structure of the world, i.e. the structure of spacetime that is conveyed to us through the theory of general relativity, is discussed. Different proposals related to several philosophical schools (coventionalism, empiricism, etc.) are dealt with. The conclusion —still open to further debate— seems to point to the fact that although space-time has an objective existence, its metric shows a relational or non-absolute character.