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Project
Interacting Methods? A Holistic Study of Isaac Newton's Methods. (FWOAL964)
This research proposal will focus on the different methods on which Isaac Newton relied in his oeuvre. Newton is often celebrated as one of the most important physicists and mathematicians in the history of science. Indeed, he developed new physical theories and concepts, which are to be found in his magna opera the 'Principia' and the
'Opticks', and he invented new mathematical tools, such as the differential and integral calculus. However, Newton was not only an innovative physicist and mathematician, for he also developed new methodological instruments. Ever since I.B. Cohen's seminal study of
1980, scholarly attention has been devoted to Newton's natural- philosophical methods, and especially to his so-called 'Principia-style' methodology. More recently, scholars have studied the methods on which Newton relied in optics, but too some extent in his
chronological work, in his work on Church history, in his prophetical work, and in his alchemical work. As it stands, we however lack a holistic historical and systematic analysis of Newton's methods, and we do not know whether the different methods which Newton
pursued in different areas of research interacted or not. This research proposal will provide a holistic study of Newton's methods, which means that the development of the methods on which Newton relied
in different areas of research will first be studied jointly so that afterwards claims can be developed about the potential interaction between these methods.
'Opticks', and he invented new mathematical tools, such as the differential and integral calculus. However, Newton was not only an innovative physicist and mathematician, for he also developed new methodological instruments. Ever since I.B. Cohen's seminal study of
1980, scholarly attention has been devoted to Newton's natural- philosophical methods, and especially to his so-called 'Principia-style' methodology. More recently, scholars have studied the methods on which Newton relied in optics, but too some extent in his
chronological work, in his work on Church history, in his prophetical work, and in his alchemical work. As it stands, we however lack a holistic historical and systematic analysis of Newton's methods, and we do not know whether the different methods which Newton
pursued in different areas of research interacted or not. This research proposal will provide a holistic study of Newton's methods, which means that the development of the methods on which Newton relied
in different areas of research will first be studied jointly so that afterwards claims can be developed about the potential interaction between these methods.
Date:1 Jan 2020 → 31 Dec 2023
Keywords:isaac newton, history and philosophy of scientific methods
Disciplines:General philosophy of science, Other philosophy, ethics and religious studies not elsewhere classified