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Apparently, the successes of Einstein' s general relativity theory have drawn attention away from his special relativity theory, which is one foundation of the general theory. The successes of special relativity are shown to be equally the successes of aether theory. as developed by George Stokes, G. F. Fitzgerald, H. A. Lorentz. A. A. Michelson. Herbert Ives and Petr Beckman, together with the implications of a new experimental discovery on light aberration by Ronald Hatch. It is submitted that the differing physical implications of the various theories deserve to be brought to the attention of the physics profession generally. Even the general theory should be weighed against the modified versions of Herbert Ives, Robert Dicke and Tom Van Flandern, while reserving for Einstein the intuition that started it all.

A re-evaluation of Einsteinian relativity in the light of Karl Popper's criterion for scientifically admissible statements. It is urged that a theory explains nothing if i( is employable (0 back up any of multiple outcomes which result from voluntaristic and arbitrary mathematical choices. That is, a theory is invalid, is not a scientific theory, if it is not falsifiable, that is, if it is consistent with multiple sets of facts.

The special theory of relativity (STR) has importance extending far beyond natural science. For instance, if the STR is true, our freedom to do as we will is a myth. Specifically, how do you exercise freedom of the will over your present motions, over motions which someone else was allegedly privileged to discover as in the future? The answer is you cannot.

This paper was read in absentia at NPA Conference 4C as "Does Einsteinian Relativity Deny Freedom of the Will?"

• Review of "Einstein Myth and the Ives Papers," pp. 442-444
• Hazelett, Richard: Comment on Martin Ruderfer's review of "The Einstein Myth and the Ives Papers," pp. 442-444.
• Reply to Hazelett on Einstein versus Ives. pp. 444-448.