Russell on Weyl's unified field theory

Abstract

In 1918, H. Weyl proposed a unified theory of gravity and electromagnetism based on a generalization of Riemannian geometry. With hindsight we now could say that the theory carried with it some of the most original ideas that inspired the physics of the twentieth century. In a book published in 1927, Bertrand Russell devoted an entire chapter to explain and give a critical appraisal of Weyl's theory. We briefly revisit the text written by Russell, who gave one of the first philosophical approaches to Weyl's ideas.