"The so-called Mach's Principle is surely one of the most elusive concepts in physics. On one hand, Machian aspects have been present either explicitly or implicitly in theoretical astronomy, general physics, and dynamics from their Greek infancy up the present day ... On the other hand, most of practical physics is done, and successfully done, without ever thinking of the 'deep questions' connected with Mach's Principle. (The situation is similar in quantum theory, which functions extremely well using established prescriptions notwithstanding deep and unresolved questions about its interpretation, its measuring process, and its classical limit.)"
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Herbert Pfister and in introductory chapter, (edited by Julian B. Barbour and Herbert Pfister; quote from p. 1)
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