On the Hole Argument and the Physical Interpretation of General Relativity

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper focuses on the hole argument and discusses its relations with the different meanings that we can give to 'spacetime.' Actually, I have no objections to the way the paper is written, and the author's purposes are clear. In addition, he makes adequate references to previous works on this topic. However, the conclusions (of course) and the approach do not contribute any new facts to this field, even though I appreciate the author's effort to comment on other works, which at times lack a physical approach. On the other hand, some of the works cited by the author are very clear reviews, both from a historical and physical-mathematical perspective.

 

In conclusion, I do not think that this paper is suitable for publication in Universe; rather, I suggest the author consider submitting it to a journal with more pedagogical aims.

Author Response

My answer is in the attached pdf.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In the manuscript the authors investigates various perspectives on the so called Hole argument, and its significance. The manuscript is well written, even that it is excessively mathematized, thus somehow contradicting the last sentence written down in the Conclusions Section. It may be publishable in Universe, if the author would fully consider the following points:

 1. The Introduction and Conclusion Sections may be extended through the addition of more discussions about the previous investigations in the problem, and the relevance of the results obtained by the author.

2. The discussion of the manuscript is restricted to the Einstein equations without a cosmological constant, given by (22), in the presence of a perfect fluid source (23). How the hole argument would change if one adds the cosmological constant to the Einstein field equations? In this case it seems there are no "holes", that is, regions of the Universe completely empty, with no form of matter present. 

Author Response

I have attached my answer

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author addresses the interesting issue of the hole argument and the physical interpretation of General Relativity.

The paper is well written and deserves to be accepted for publication as it stands.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

See the lines:

88 (connetion), 188 (week), 284 (n), 385 (I've), 476 (I've).

However, do a complete review, as there may be other misprints.

Author Response

I attached a pdf.file

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I confirm my assessment of the article as in my previous report. However, given the fact that the article is presented as an essay and not as new research, I support its publication.