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Prominent theoretical physicists were therefore more inclined to

reject the principle of relativity, in spite of the fact that no

empirical data had been found which were contradictory to this

principle.

At this juncture the theory of relativity entered the arena. As a

result of an analysis of the physical conceptions of time and

space, it became evident that _in reality there is not the least

incompatibilitiy between the principle of relativity and the law

of propagation of light_, and that by systematically holding fast

to both these laws a logically rigid theory could be arrived at.

This theory has been called the special theory of relativity to

distinguish it from the extended theory, with which we shall deal

later. In the following pages we shall present the fundamental

ideas of the special theory of relativity.

VIII.

ON THE IDEA OF TIME IN PHYSICS