The concept of order

Abstract

From the idea of the continuous development of an investigation, as expressed in the use of indefinitely continuing sequences of procedures, the concept of a measurement together with its result is formulated. The resulting theory is initially very general, but it is possible to restrict it in such a way as to make the construction of a consistent world possible. The physical condition providing the restrictions that make this construction possible is found in the use of the general idea of a test-particle in all fundamental investigations, which is shown to be a case of the use of the theory-languages of the previous paper (1). Finally, the theory is applied to the solution of the problem of preferred inertial frames.