The Measurability Principle and the Inconsistency of Relativistic Gravity:

Soumendra Nath Thakur 

March 30, 2025

A fundamental principle in science is that physical entities must be measurable, either directly or indirectly, through empirical evidence. If something is inherently unmeasurable, it falls outside the realm of physical science and into speculation.

If gravity is indeed a force, then Classical Mechanics provides a more appropriate framework for describing gravitational interactions. However, relativity redefines gravity not as a force but as a consequence of spacetime curvature. This fundamental shift raises an important question: How can gravity still be presented as a force within a relativistic framework? Such an approach appears inconsistent, if not opportunistic.

Furthermore, claiming that spacetime possesses physical properties while simultaneously asserting that it cannot be directly measured results in an unfalsifiable premise—one that cannot be tested, verified, or refuted by empirical means. This undermines the scientific validity of the relativistic treatment of gravity, as it relies on theoretical constructs that do not adhere to the fundamental requirement of measurability.

The Flawed Empirical Basis of Relativistic Gravitational Lensing And The Misinterpretation of Gravitational Lensing in Relativity

The claim that "spacetime itself may not be directly measurable, but its effects on observable phenomena can be" is fundamentally flawed and scientifically inconsistent. A rigorous analysis of gravitational lensing reveals a critical contradiction in the relativistic interpretation.  

If light were truly bending due to spacetime curvature, it would be obstructed by the massive body responsible for this curvature, preventing it from reaching an observer positioned beyond the gravitating mass. This contradicts the observational evidence attributed to gravitational lensing. Instead, the bending of light aligns with the classical interpretation, where light follows the curvature of the gravitational field rather than an abstract, unmeasurable warping of spacetime.  

Thus, the empirical claims supporting relativistic gravitational lensing are misleading. The phenomenon is more accurately explained by classical gravitational fields, rendering the relativistic interpretation of spacetime curvature not only unnecessary but fundamentally flawed.

The Misinterpretation of Gravitational Lensing in Relativity

While both the relativistic and classical models predict the bending of light, their underlying mechanisms differ significantly. The classical model attributes this effect to the gravitational field's direct influence on light’s trajectory, a concept that remains scientifically consistent and aligns with fundamental physical principles.

Conversely, the relativistic model claims that light bends due to the curvature of spacetime itself. However, this assertion lacks scientific consistency, as spacetime is an abstract mathematical construct rather than a physically measurable entity. If spacetime curvature were responsible for lensing, light passing near a massive body would be obstructed by that body rather than bending around it.

Thus, observational verifications attributed to relativistic gravitational lensing are based on flawed interpretations. The bending of light is best explained by classical gravitational fields, reaffirming that gravitational lensing is a consequence of classical mechanics rather than an effect of an unmeasurable and physically inconsistent spacetime curvature.