Article ID: CBB928474290

The Rigor of the Ancients and the Opportunism of the Moderns: The Case of the Lever (2019)

unapi

We bring an argument favoring the perspective that modern science is different from ancient science as the former is less rigorous than the latter. To prove this thesis, we investigate how Archimedes and Galilei demonstrate the principle of the lever, i.e. the law according to which the equilibrium of the lever depends on the product of the loaded weight times the length of the arm. In explaining Archimedes’ proof, we follow Dijksterhuis’ presentation, defending its rigor from Mach’s attack. Concerning Galileo, on the other hand, we show how his proof of the lever principle is based on the thesis that continuum is constituted by an infinity of atoms. Moreover, we shed light on the fact that Galileo employs this notion of continuum despite knowing that it is not rigorous. We conclude by emphasizing the opportunism of Galileo’s methodology as contraposed to Archimedes’ rigor.

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Authors & Contributors
Pisano, Raffaele
Métraux, Alexandre
Douglas Summers Stay
Giannini, Giulia
Cohnitz, Daniel
Trabucco, Oreste
Concepts
Machines
Physics
Mechanics
Methodology of science; scientific method
Technology
Human physiology
Time Periods
Modern
Ancient
19th century
Early modern
Medieval
17th century
Places
Italy
Europe
China
North America
Japan
Great Britain
Institutions
Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (Rome)
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