| Description |
1 online resource (xxii, 194 pages) |
| Series |
Science Networks: Historical Studies ; volume 60 |
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Science networks historical studies ; v. 60.
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| Contents |
Intro -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- The Man for Wisdomś Various Arts Renownd́ -- Contents -- Chapter 1: In the Temples of Holy Mathematics -- 1.1 The Good Purposes of Father Clavius -- 1.2 Light from Abroad: The Flandro-Belgian Connection and Gilles-François de Gottignies -- 1.3 Desperate Defenses in a Physico-Mathematical Style -- 1.4 Boscovich, the Anti-Copernican -- 1.5 Exercising the Compatibilist Virtue -- 1.6 Glimmers of Newtonianism -- 1.7 Compatibilism Anew: The ̀̀Sidereal Space ́́ -- Chapter 2: Godś in His Heaven-Allś Right with the World |
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2.1 A Force Called Inertia and Other Determinations -- 2.2 Being Agnostic About the Causal Power of Powers -- 2.3 Being Neutral About Physical Representations -- 2.4 A Determination of What? Boscovichś Epistemology of Force -- 2.5 God Only Knows -- Chapter 3: The Others -- 3.1 A Matter of Inclinations -- 3.2 Newtonś Ambiguity Disentangled -- 3.2.1 Hales ́Amphibious Air -- 3.2.2 The Spheres of Activity of John T. Desaguliers and John Rowning -- 3.2.3 An Attempt by Gowin Knight -- 3.2.4 The ̀̀Beautiful ́́Magnetic Theory of John Michell -- 3.3 Boscovich and the Newtonians -- 3.4 Vexed Questions |
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3.4.1 Leibnizianism Disguised? -- 3.4.2 A Prototheory of Field? -- Chapter 4: The Book of Genesis -- 4.1 A Research Program from 1748: The Camaldolese Ur-Theorie -- 4.2 Deeper into the Points, Building Up Matter -- 4.2.1 Zenoś Revival -- 4.2.2 Aristotelianism Corrected with Newtonian Transduction -- 4.3 Never-Ending Aggregates -- 4.4 The Number of Points of a Body: Boscovichś Notion of Mass and Its Source -- 4.5 A Three-Layered Metaphysics of Space -- Chapter 5: The Other Labyrinth -- 5.1 Strategy Changes -- 5.2 Leibniz in Light (and Shadow) of Aristotle |
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5.3 Problem-Solving by Geometrical Means -- Chapter 6: Touching Infinity -- 6.1 Early Expressions -- 6.2 Infinite Legs and Their Arcana -- 6.3 Mathematical Constraints -- 6.4 ̀̀Invenire Naturam Curvae ́́ -- 6.5 Building the Curve -- 6.5.1 Simple but Subtle -- 6.5.2 It Rains Cuts and Dogs -- 6.5.3 To Each His Own -- 6.5.4 Symmetries -- 6.5.5 Infinitesimals that Cause Infinities -- 6.5.6 Indeterminacy -- 6.6 Epilogue -- Concluding Remarks -- The Will to Unify, the Force of Plurality -- Bibliography |
| Summary |
Drawing on published works, correspondence and manuscripts, this book offers the most comprehensive reconstruction of Boscovichs theory within its historical context. It explains the genesis and theoretical as well as epistemological underpinnings in light of the Jesuit tradition to which Boscovich belonged, and contrasts his ideas with those of Newton, Leibniz, and their legacy. Finally, it debates crucial issues in early-modern physical science such as the concept of force, the particle-like structure of matter, the idea of material points and the notion of continuity, and shares novel insights on Boscovichs alleged influence on later developments in physics. With its attempt to reduce all natural forces to one single law, Boscovichs Theory of Natural Philosophy, published in 1758, left a lasting impression on scientists and philosophers of every age regarding the fundamental unity of physical phenomena. The theory argues that every pair of material points is subject to one mutual force -- and always the same force -- which is their propensity to be mutually attracted or repelled, depending on their distance from one another. Furthermore, the action of this unique force is visualized through a famous diagram that fascinated generations of scientists. But his understanding of key terms of the theory -- such as the notion of force involved and the very idea of a material point -- is only ostensibly similar to our current conceptual framework. Indeed, it needs to be clarified within the plurality of contexts in which it has emerged rather than being considered in view of later developments. The book is recommended for scholars and students interested in the ideas of the early modern period, especially historians and philosophers of science, mathematicians and physicists with an interest in the history of the discipline, and experts on Jesuit science and philosophy |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on October 20, 2020) |
| Subject |
Boscovich, Ruggero Giuseppe, 1711-1787.
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| SUBJECT |
Boscovich, Ruggero Giuseppe, 1711-1787 fast |
| Subject |
Science -- History -- 18th century
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Science -- Philosophy -- History -- 18th century
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History of science.
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History of mathematics.
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History of Western philosophy.
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Science -- Physics.
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Mathematics -- History & Philosophy.
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Philosophy -- History & Surveys -- General.
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Science -- History.
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Science
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Science -- Philosophy
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| Genre/Form |
History
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9783030520939 |
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3030520935 |
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