Skip to main content
Journal cover image

How physics flew the philosophers' nest.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brading, K; Stan, M
Published in: Studies in history and philosophy of science
August 2021

We all know that, nowadays, physics and philosophy are housed in separate departments on university campuses. They are distinct disciplines with their own journals and conferences, and in general they are practiced by different people, using different tools and methods. We also know that this was not always the case: up until the early 17th century (at least), physics was a part of philosophy. So what happened? And what philosophical lessons should we take away? We argue that the split took place long after Newton's Principia (rather than before, as many standard accounts would have it), and offer a new account of the philosophical reasons that drove the separation. We argue that one particular problem, dating back to Descartes and persisting long into the 18th century, played a pivotal role. The failure to solve it, despite repeated efforts, precipitates a profound change in the relationship between physics and philosophy. The culprit is the problem of collisions. Innocuous though it may seem, this problem becomes the bellwether of deeper issues concerning the nature and properties of bodies in general. The failure to successfully address the problem led to a reconceptualization of the goals and subject-matter of physics, a change in the relationship between physics and mechanics, and a shift in who had authority over the most fundamental issues in physics.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of science

DOI

ISSN

0039-3681

Publication Date

August 2021

Volume

88

Start / End Page

312 / 320

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • Physics
  • Philosophy
  • Humans
  • Diptera
  • Animals
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 2202 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Brading, K., & Stan, M. (2021). How physics flew the philosophers' nest. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 88, 312–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.06.010
Brading, Katherine, and Marius Stan. “How physics flew the philosophers' nest.Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 88 (August 2021): 312–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.06.010.
Brading K, Stan M. How physics flew the philosophers' nest. Studies in history and philosophy of science. 2021 Aug;88:312–20.
Brading, Katherine, and Marius Stan. “How physics flew the philosophers' nest.Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, vol. 88, Aug. 2021, pp. 312–20. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.06.010.
Brading K, Stan M. How physics flew the philosophers' nest. Studies in history and philosophy of science. 2021 Aug;88:312–320.
Journal cover image

Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of science

DOI

ISSN

0039-3681

Publication Date

August 2021

Volume

88

Start / End Page

312 / 320

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • Physics
  • Philosophy
  • Humans
  • Diptera
  • Animals
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 2202 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields