The Concept of Causation in Newton's Mechanical and Optical Work

Logic and Logical Philosophy 16 (4):265-288 (2007)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In this essay the authors explore the nature of efficient causal explanation in Newton’s "Principia and The Opticks". It is argued that: (1) In the dynamical explanations of the Principia, Newton treats the phenomena under study as cases of Hall’s second kind of atypical causation. The underlying concept of causation is therefore a purely interventionist one. (2) In the descriptions of his optical experiments, Newton treats the phenomena under study as cases of Hall’s typical causation. The underlying concept of causation is therefore a mixed interventionist/mechanicist one

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,221

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Twenty-nine years in the making: Newton's opticks.Alan E. Shapiro - 2008 - Perspectives on Science 16 (4):pp. 417-438.
Three concepts of causation in Newton.Andrew Janiak - 2013 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 44 (3):396-407.
How causal is downward causation?Menno Hulswit - 2005 - Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 36 (2):261 - 287.
Leibniz on final causes.Laurence Carlin - 2006 - Journal of the History of Philosophy 44 (2):217-233.

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-11-24

Downloads
68 (#216,378)

6 months
5 (#244,107)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author Profiles

Citations of this work

Darwin's laws.Chris Haufe - 2012 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 43 (1):269-280.
Darwin’s laws.Chris Haufe - 2012 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 43 (1):269-280.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Two concepts of causation.Ned Hall - 2004 - In John Collins, Ned Hall & Laurie Paul (eds.), Causation and Counterfactuals. MIT Press. pp. 225-276.
What is a mechanism? A counterfactual account.Jim Woodward - 2002 - Proceedings of the Philosophy of Science Association 2002 (3):S366-S377.

View all 18 references / Add more references