It appears that relativists cannot imagine that their their strange world might be mythical. The success of predictions is attractive. However, the equations of physics are written to model patterns in changes of velocities with respect to time (Actually the property of time has never been represented in physics equations. More about this in another message.). It is the patterns that very often successfully extrapolate predictions that the patterns will continue. The equations don't contain properties directly. All properties are represented only by their units of measurement. The units, when properly defined consist always and only of combinations of meters and seconds. This is, of 聽course, not the case currently. Some units have never been defined such as kilograms and degrees Kelvin. Also, there is electric charge which is circularly defined. Being circularly defined means actually being not defined.
The equations of physics can tolerate these deficiencies most of the time. They can tolerate substitute properties and added-on properties. These types of properties are not real. They are invented by theorists, carefully designed to fill in blanks without harming the patterns that empirical evidence tells us must be maintained. So successful predictions can, when over relied upon let theorists go astray and lose their way when attempting to explain the nature of the universe.
Everything we need to know and can know is communicated to us by empirical evidence. Our lead in learning should be directly gained from empirical evidence. Yet I find many theorists, while highly skilled at mathematical modeling, are not trained to fully analyze empirical evidence for the answers they are seeking. 聽If seems that some believe that the function of empirical evidence is to confirm successful predictions. Successful predictions are not good guardians against faulty interpretations of the nature of the universe. The guardian most needed is to rely upon empirical evidence to learn what it is revealing to us about the nature of the universe.
This is why all properties used in physics equations must be defined in the same terms as physics empirical evidence is expressed. All units that represent properties in physics equations must be defined in terms of combinations of meters and seconds. The empirical evidence guides us in how to do this if we are looking for it. I look for it. Blanks are filled in and substitutes are removed. Theory is discarded in favor of returning the equations of physics to their empirical forms. Fundamental unity is always present. A lot of problems are solved when the presence of fundamental unity ties everything together. 聽聽
Has the dilation of the property of time been confirmed by empirical evidence to be physically real? - ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Has_the_dilation_of_the_property_of_time_been_confirmed_by_empirical_evidence_to_be_physically_real/1 [accessed Aug 15, 2016].