Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4rdrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-24T17:21:21.205Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

On Force in Cartesian Physics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

John Byron Manchak
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

There does not seem to be a consistent way to ground the concept of “force” in Cartesian first principles. In this article, I first review the literature on the subject. Then, I offer an alternative interpretation of force—one that seems to be coherent and consistent with Descartes’ project. Not only does the new position avoid the problems of previous interpretations, but it does so in such a way as to support and justify those previous interpretations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 76 , Issue 3 , July 2009 , pp. 295 - 306
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

‡

I wish to thank Alice Sowaal and an anonymous referee for valuable suggestions. I am especially grateful to Alan Nelson for his tremendous help and encouragement.

References

Adam, C., and Tannery, P. (1982–1991), Oeuvres de Descartes, Nouvelle Presentation. 11 vols. Paris: Vrin/CNRS.Google Scholar
Cottingham, J., Stoothoff, R., and Murdoch, D. (1985), The Philosophical Writings of Descartes. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Cottingham, J., Stoothoff, R., Murdoch, D., and Kenny, A. (1991), The Philosophical Writings of Descartes. vol. 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Gabbey, A. (1980), “Force and Inertia in the Seventeenth Century: Descartes and Newton”, in Gaukroger, S. (ed.), Descartes: Philosophy, Mathematics and Physics. Sussex: Harvester, 230–320.Google Scholar
Garber, D. (1992), Descartes’ Metaphysical Physics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Gueroult, M. (1980), “The Metaphysics and Physics of Force in Descartes”, in Gaukroger, S. (ed.), Descartes: Philosophy, Mathematics and Physics. Sussex: Harvester, 196–229.Google Scholar
Hatfield, G. (1979), “Force (God) in Descartes’ Physics”, Force (God) in Descartes’ Physics 10:113–140.Google Scholar
Nelson, A. (1997), “Descartes's Ontology of Thought”, Descartes's Ontology of Thought 16:163–178.Google Scholar
Nolan, L. (1997), “Reductionism and Nominalism in Descartes's Theory of Attributes”, Reductionism and Nominalism in Descartes's Theory of Attributes 16:129–140.Google Scholar
Slowik, E. (2002), Cartesian Spacetime. Dordrecht: Kluwer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, K., and Nelson, A. (2009), “Divisibility and Cartesian Extension”, in Garber, D. and Nadler, S. (eds.), Oxford Studies in Early Modern Philosophy. vol. 5. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.Google Scholar
Sowaal, A. (2004), “Cartesian Bodies”, Cartesian Bodies 34:217–240.Google Scholar
Sowaal, A. (2005), “Idealism and Cartesian Motion”, in Nelson, A. (ed.), A Companion to Rationalism. Oxford: Blackwell, 250–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Westfall, R. (1971), Force in Newton's Physics. New York: Elsevier.Google Scholar