This is the first post of three where I reflect on the history of science. I’m starting with projectile motion, a phenomenon that nagged at Aristotle’s Physics. It was not long after Aristotle’s death that members of his school began to comment on the weakness of his explanation for projectile motion. Projectile motion occurs when …
1.) It is fairly well known that Aristotle’s science could not well explain projectile motion (the flight of arrows, thrown stones, and, later, cannonballs). It is not so well known that the rival Greek atomists could not explain it either. I’ll explore the reasons why both failed, and why the medieval theory of impetus began …
Coming Soon: Two topics in the history of science Read More »
I have an account with academia.edu, an aggregation site for scientists and humanists. I don’t post essays there; I favor ResearchGate and PhilPapers. But academia.edu sends me weekly requests: they have found a list of references to my name and would I please indicate whether these references really are to me. I had been ignoring …