The Meaning of Dimensions

Authors:
Paul S. Wesson

Abstract: We review the current status of dimensions, as the result of a long and
controversial history that includes input from philosophy and physics. Our
conclusion is that they are subjective but essential concepts which provide a
kind of book-keeping device, their number increasing as required by advances in
physics. The world almost certainly has more than the four dimensions of space
and time, but the introduction of the fifth and higher dimensions requires a
careful approach wherein known results are embedded and new ones are couched in
the most productive manner.

Subjects: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
Journal reference: Wesson P.S. (2008), The Meaning of Dimensions in Relativity and
the Dimensionality of the World, Series: Fundamental Theories of Physics, Vol
153 Petkov, Vesselin (Ed.), 276 p
Cite as: arXiv:0712.1315v1 [gr-qc]