A Constructivist View of Newton's Mechanics
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5843549 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hernán G Solari (0000-0003-4287-1878, Institute of Astronomy and Space Physics), Mario A Natiello (0000-0002-9481-7454, Lund University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 307-341 |
| Publication date | 2018-12-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Foundations of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1233-1821 • E-ISSN: 1572-8471 |
| Publisher | Springer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10699-018-9573-z |
| OpenAlex | W3098182681 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 20 |
In the present essay we attempt to reconstruct Newtonian mechanics under the guidance of logical principles and of a constructive approach related to the genetic epistemology of J. Piaget and R. Garc\'ia \citep{piag89}. Instead of addressing Newton's equations as a set of axioms, ultimately given by the revelation of a prodigious mind, we search for the fundamental knowledge, beliefs and provisional assumptions that can produce classical mechanics. We start by developing our main tool: the No Arbitrariness Principle, that we present in a form that is apt for a mathematical theory as classical mechanics. Subsequently, we introduce the presence of the observer, analysing then the relation objective-subjective and seeking objectivity going across subjectivity. We take special care of establishing the precedence among all contributions to mechanics, something that can be better appreciated by considering the consequences of removing them: (a) the consequence of renouncing logic and the laws of understanding is not being able to understand the world, (b) renouncing the early elaborations of primary concepts such as time and space leads to a dissociation between everyday life and physics, the latter becoming entirely pragmatic and justified \emph{a-posteriori} (because it is convenient), (c) changing our temporary beliefs has no real cost other than effort. Finally, we exemplify the present approach by reconsidering the constancy of the velocity of light. It is shown that it is a result of Newtonian mechanics, rather than being in contradiction with it. We also indicate the hidden assumption that leads to the (apparent) contradiction
Arbitrariness · Constructive · Contradiction · Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology · Historical Philosophy and Science · Philosophy and History of Science
Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica
Is Water H2O?
The construction of reality in the child.
The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Discourse on the method of rightly conducting the reason, and seeking truth in the sciences
I.—On the Notion of Cause
I.—the Unreality of Time
Peirce's Theory of Abduction
Buckets of Water and Waves of Space
On the Viability of Galilean Relationalism
On the Notion of Cause [1913]
Ideas pertaining to a pure phenomenology and to a phenomenological philosophy
Leibniz's Theory of Space and Time
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |