Beyond Geometry: Conceptual Foundations of a Force-Based Theory of Gravity

We propose a revised definition of force and explore its conceptual implications for the foundations of mechanics and field theory. Within this framework, the notions of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics are reformulated, leading naturally to a modified procedure for canonical quantization. The new definition reveals gravity as a genuine interaction rather than just a manifestation of spacetime geometry. On this basis, we construct a corresponding theory of gravity that appears as a deformation of General Relativity and, at the same time, as a natural extension of Yang–Mills gauge theories. The standard gauge interactions thus arise as a limiting case of this broader structure. The framework provides a unified description in which the observed effects attributed to dark matter and dark energy emerge without introducing such entities explicitly. Moreover, the quantization method developed for point particles generalizes consistently to fields and reproduces the expected results for conventional gauge systems. When applied to gravity, however, it indicates that the results of naïve canonical quantization cannot be regarded as conclusive regarding the quantum nature of the gravitational field.

Grantor dc:publisher

Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Horoto, Langa Samuel

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Scholtz, Frederik G.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136068

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136068