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Originally Posted by George
Nevertheless, both theories of gravity (Newton and Einstein), from the use of the scientific method, predict a coordinate change if the mass is altered.
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I wouldn't say they predict a coordinate change, but I think you mean that they predict the motion within any set coordinate system would be different.
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Yet, conversely, it does not predict a mass change if we change the coordinate framework, at least I assume so.
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In a sense they do-- if the Earth's motion suddenly changed as though the Sun had more mass, we might have to conclude that in fact the Sun's mass did change. We would always say the mass caused the motion change, regardless of which we noticed first, but again the coordinates need not be slave to
causation, they merely must respect the
connection between the mass and the motion.
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I'm probably wording this poorly, but I do see a difference that is a cause and effect issue regardless of the fact that the interlock between the math and the behavior are unchanged, like a horse and cart analogy; one leads the other.
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Causation is indeed viewed as a principle of physics, but the question here is, shall we impose a connection between it and coordinatization, or may the two be viewed entirely independently (as in, "the Sun set"). That relativity works is trying to tell us something, but that cause-and-effect works is saying something too. Perhaps an open mind is the best course at this stage.
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The larger bodies will be seen to not orbit the smaller bodies, so Geocentricity fails though the math is equivalent.
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To me, the failure of geocentricity is not in how the motion gets described, it is in how we attribute that motion. If one merely states that one has chosen to center the coordinates on the Earth for no reason but personal preference or convenience, no fault can be laid. If one claims that this is somehow a special coordinate singled out by nature, rather than purely a choice by man, then one is not using the physical principles that have been demonstrated. But the same can be said about
any coordinate system-- I think if one becomes adept at GR (I'm not), one finds that nature simply does not single out coordinates-- it's the same "crank" no matter what coordinates you use, sometimes the math is just easier.
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Perhaps it is an Ocaham's Razor for reference frames as to which is the most elegant with greatest utility (ignoring all those Earthling's desires to use geocentricity for their own selfish wish for easier calculations, of course).
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Indeed it is-- but which one is most elegant may vary from problem to problem, moreso than from law to law.