Spink, Aaron (Author)
Jacques Rohault (1618–72) is often considered to be one of the most meticulous followers of Descartes. Despite this, Rohault’s natural philosophy lacks much of the metaphysical bulwark that typifies Cartesian treatises of the seventeenth century. Instead, Rohault’s work, as well as his popular weekly meetings, strongly emphasized rigorous observation and experimentation. Traditionally, this emphasis on experiment over metaphysics is seen as a pragmatic omission to avoid the perils associated with censorship and Cartesian metaphysics. However, I find that the lack of explicit metaphysics has real consequences that play out in the role Rohault assigns to experimentation. To show this, I highlight several areas where he adopts a broad experimental methodology even though Descartes explicitly rejects the relevancy of experiment on metaphysical topics. I place special emphasis Rohault’s extensive experiment on the void. In short, Rohault’s experimentation was designed to prove, through experimental means, that the void does not exist, whereas for Descartes, this was only able to be settled through the use of pure reason. This shows two things. First, Rohault represents a new strain of pragmatist-Cartesians. Second, it adds more nuance to the initial struggles of early Cartesians to distance themselves from Descartes’ most obvious problems.
...MoreArticle Alberto Vanzo (2018) Introduction. British Journal for the History of Philosophy (pp. 805-811).
Article Alberto Vanzo (2018) Introduction. British Journal for the History of Philosophy (pp. 805-811).
Chapter
Mihnea Dobre;
(2013)
Rohault’s Cartesian Physics
(/isis/citation/CBB913683806/)
Article
Mihnea Dobre;
(2020)
Jacques Rohault’s Mathematical Physics
(/isis/citation/CBB922054924/)
Thesis
Lo, Melissa Ming-Hwei;
(2014)
Between Figure and Line: Visual Transformations of Cartesian Physics, 1620--1690
(/isis/citation/CBB001567556/)
Chapter
Roger Ariew;
(2013)
Censorship, Condemnations, and the Spread of Cartesianism
(/isis/citation/CBB116959533/)
Chapter
Delphine Bellis;
(2013)
Empiricism Without Metaphysics: Regius’ Cartesian Natural Philosophy
(/isis/citation/CBB297326434/)
Chapter
Tammy Nyden;
(2013)
De Volder’s Cartesian Physics and Experimental Pedagogy
(/isis/citation/CBB172484763/)
Chapter
Daston, Lorraine;
(2010)
The Empire of Observation, 1600--1800
(/isis/citation/CBB001221449/)
Article
Belkind, Ori;
(2013)
Leibniz and Newton on Space
(/isis/citation/CBB001320865/)
Essay Review
Guicciardini, Niccolò;
(2013)
Harper and Ducheyne on Newton
(/isis/citation/CBB001566365/)
Article
Luigi Guerrini;
(2017)
Experiment, Observation, and Anatomy in Federico Cesi's Botanical Researches
(/isis/citation/CBB124036987/)
Article
Doina-Cristina Rusu;
Dana Jalobeanu;
(2020)
Giovan Battista Della Porta and Francis Bacon on the Creative Power of Experimentation
(/isis/citation/CBB597860170/)
Book
Dalma Frascarelli;
(2016)
L'altro Seicento: arte a Roma tra eterodossia, libertinismo e scienza
(/isis/citation/CBB699794623/)
Article
Wolfe, Charles;
Salter, Alan;
(2009)
Empiricism contra Experiment: Harvey, Locke and the Revisionist View of Experimental Philosophy
(/isis/citation/CBB001031881/)
Chapter
Justin E. H. Smith;
(2013)
Heat, Action, Perception: Models of Living Beings in German Medical Cartesianism
(/isis/citation/CBB416199867/)
Chapter
Wiep Bunge;
(2013)
Dutch Cartesian Empiricism and the Advent of Newtonianism
(/isis/citation/CBB997372736/)
Chapter
Koen Vermeir;
(2013)
Mechanical Philosophy in an Enchanted World: Cartesian Empiricism in Balthasar Bekker’s Radical Reformation
(/isis/citation/CBB020522302/)
Chapter
Sophie Roux;
(2013)
Was There a Cartesian Experimentalism in 1660s France?
(/isis/citation/CBB498349264/)
Chapter
Bernard Joly;
(2013)
Could a Practicing Chemical Philosopher Be a Cartesian?
(/isis/citation/CBB320937408/)
Book
Ott, Walter R.;
(2009)
Causation and Laws of Nature in Early Modern Philosophy
(/isis/citation/CBB001033000/)
Book
Gaukroger, Stephen;
Schuster, John;
Sutton, John;
(2000)
Descartes' Natural Philosophy
(/isis/citation/CBB000100216/)
Be the first to comment!