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Ruggiero Boscovich's Theory of Natural Philosophy - Points, Distances, Determinations (Paperback, 1st ed. 2020)
Loot Price: R3,757
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Ruggiero Boscovich's Theory of Natural Philosophy - Points, Distances, Determinations (Paperback, 1st ed. 2020)
Series: Science Networks. Historical Studies, 60
Expected to ship within 10 - 15 working days
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Drawing on published works, correspondence and manuscripts, this
book offers the most comprehensive reconstruction of Boscovich's
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 Boscovich's alleged influence on later developments in
physics. With its attempt to reduce all natural forces to one
single law, Boscovich's 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.
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