Gravitation, the general theory of relativity, and alternative theories

The main stages in the construction of the theory of gravitation and prospects for its further development are discussed. The main attention is devoted to comparing the properties of the relativistic gravitational field and other physical fields. Two equivalent formulations of the general theory of relativity–the “geometrical” and the “field”– are considered in detail. It is explained why some of the field theories of gravitation developed in flat space-time are not different theories of the relativistic gravitational field but merely other formulations of general relativity.