Discrete geometry: speculations on a new framework for classical electrodynamics

An attempt is made to describe the basic principles of physics in terms of discrete partially ordered sets. Geometric ideas are introduced by means of an action at a distance formulation of classical electrodynamics. The speculations are in two main directions: (i) Gravity, one of the four elementary forces of nature, seems to be fundamentally different from the other three forces. Could it be that gravity can be explained as a natural consequence of the discrete structure? (ii) The problem of the observer in quantum mechanics continues to cause conceptual problems. Can quantum statistics be explained in terms of finite ensembles of possible partially ordered sets? The development is guided at all stages by reference to the simplest, and most well-established principles of physics