It is shown that the theory presented in a recently published paper by Sobouti (2015 Eur. J. Phys.
36 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/36/6/065036] 065036 ) allows for a straightforward
development of Maxwell’s equations from Coulomb’s law. The fact that Coulomb’s field satisfies
Gauss’s law and is the irrotational field permits us to obtain the full set of Maxwell’s equations.
The method is rigorous and does not require any ad hoc generalizations. The reasoning emphasizes the
role of space–time structure in determining the form of physical laws. Some important assumptions
made implicitly in the theory by Sobouti are discussed.