Newtonianism abounds in variety: Petrus van Musschenbroek's experimental methodology (FWOAL753)

This proposal will scrutinize Petrus van Musschenbroek's (1692-1761) scientific methodology. Musschenbroek was one of the most influential advocates of Newtonianism on the Continent, who further developed Newton’s natural philosophy and dealt with physical problems that were left unaddressed by Newton. Surprisingly, there are virtually no detailed studies of his methodology and the vast amount of his manuscripts has not been studied at all. This research project seeks to fill in these scholarly gaps by providing a historical and philosophical account of his methodology both in precept and in practice. Following his own statements, many scholars have been led to believe that he was a follower of Newton’s methodology without, however, providing detailed justification for this claim. The overarching goal of this research proposal is to explicate Musschenbroek’s scientific methodology and to determine whether or not his methodology may be rightfully considered as Newtonian. The promoter of this research project has recently provided a historically detailed and systematically rich account of Newton’s methodology. In the research project at hand, this account will be used to ascertain whether Musschenbroek’s methodology was based on Newton’s methodology (and, if so, to what extent) or whether he was relying on different methodological traditions. Given its set-up, this research proposal will have significant implications for the study of 18th-century Newtonianism in general.

Keywords:newtonianism, experimental methodology

Disciplines:General philosophy of science