Article ID: CBB000932570

Modes of Explanation in the Aristotelian “Mechanical Problems” (2009)

unapi

De Groot, Jean (Author)


Early Science and Medicine: A Journal for the Study of Science, Technology and Medicine in the Pre-modern Period
Volume: 14
Pages: 22--42


Publication Date: 2009
Edition Details: Part of special issue: Evidence and Interpretation: Studies on Early Science and Medicine in Honor of John E. Murdoch
Language: English

Scholars have been puzzled by the central argument of MP 1 where the author addresses the basic principle behind the balance and lever. It is not clear what is intended to provide the explanation---the dynamic concepts of force and constraint or the geometrical demonstration. Nor is it clear whether the geometrical part of the argument carries any logical force or has value as a proof. This paper makes a case for the cogency of the argument as a kinematic, not dynamic, account. MP 1 proceeds systematically as it extends the explanatory power of the parallelogram of movements from rectilinear motion to circular motion. Euclid's Elements I.43 provides insight on the author's procedure. His general method is demonstrative, as described in Posterior Analytics I.1.

...More
Included in

Article Newman, William R.; Sylla, Edith Dudley (2009) Introduction. Early Science and Medicine: A Journal for the Study of Science, Technology and Medicine in the Pre-modern Period (p. 1). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB000932570/

Similar Citations

Article Schiefsky, Mark; (2009)
Structures of Argument and Concepts of Force in the Aristotelian Mechanical Problems (/isis/citation/CBB000932571/)

Article Anders, John; (2013)
Problēmata Mēchanika, the Analytics, and Projectile Motion (/isis/citation/CBB001200188/)

Article Aichele, Alexander; (2012)
Dynamische Wirklichkeit. Bewegung als Grundbegriff aristotelischer Metaphysik (/isis/citation/CBB001200478/)

Article Gregory, Andrew; (2001)
Aristotle, Dynamics and Proportionality (/isis/citation/CBB000773916/)

Article Harari, Orna; (2003)
The Concept of Existence and the Role of Constructions in Euclid's Elements (/isis/citation/CBB000300433/)

Book Koetsier, T.; Ceccarelli, Marco; (2012)
Explorations in the History of Machines and Mechanisms: Proceedings of HMM2012 (/isis/citation/CBB001213204/)

Book Giuseppe Cambiano; (2006)
Figure, macchine, sogni. Saggi sulla scienza antica (/isis/citation/CBB013124835/)

Book Tóth, Imre; (2010)
Fragmente und Spuren nichteuklidischer Geometrie bei Aristoteles (/isis/citation/CBB001420976/)

Article Vilain, Christiane; (2011)
Galilée et la force centrifuge (/isis/citation/CBB807557796/)

Chapter Gianni Micheli; (2015)
I principi nelle diverse concezioni della meccanica antica (/isis/citation/CBB961030464/)

Article Vincenzo De Risi; David Rabouin; (2019)
Introduction (/isis/citation/CBB534995802/)

Chapter Sarnowsky, Jürgen; (2008)
Concepts of Impetus and the History of Mechanics (/isis/citation/CBB000760474/)

Book Suppes, Patrick; Moravcsik, Julius M.; Mendell, Henry; (2000)
Ancient & Medieval Traditions in the Exact Sciences: Essays in Memory of Wilbur Knorr (/isis/citation/CBB000101823/)

Article Schmit, Christophe; (2014)
Rapports entre équilibre et dynamique au tournant des 17e et 18e siècles (/isis/citation/CBB001202411/)

Book Leunissen, Mariska; (2010)
Explanation and Teleology in Aristotle's Science of Nature (/isis/citation/CBB001220104/)

Article Johnson, Monte Ransome; (2009)
The Aristotelian Explanation of the Halo (/isis/citation/CBB001021127/)

Article Merker, Anne; (2002)
Aristote et l'Arc-en-Ciel: Enjeux Philosophiques et Etude Scientifique (/isis/citation/CBB000200222/)

Article Ruth Glasner; (2020)
An early stage in the evolution of Aristotle's physics (/isis/citation/CBB835571117/)

Authors & Contributors
Schmit, Christophe
Vilain, Christiane
Toth, Imre
Suppes, Patrick C.
Schiefsky, Mark J.
Sarnowsky, Jürgen
Concepts
Physics
Mechanics
Dynamics
Geometry
Motion (physical)
Mathematics
Time Periods
Ancient
17th century
Medieval
Renaissance
18th century
Places
Greece
Europe
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment