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339Natural Laws, Universals, and the Induction ProblemPhilosophia 32 (1-4): 241-251. 2005.This paper contends that some of the recent critical appraisals of universals theories of natural laws, namely, van Fraassen's analysis of Armstrong's probabilistic laws, are largely ineffective since they fail to disclose the incompatibility of universals and any realistic natural law setting. Rather, a more profitable line of criticism is developed that contests the universalists' claim to have resolved the induction problem (i.e., the separation of natural laws from mere accidental regulariti…Read more
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564Descartes' Quantity of Motion: 'New Age' Holism meets the Cartesian Conservation PrinciplePacific Philosophical Quarterly 80 (2). 1999.This essay explores various problematical aspects of Descartes' conservation principle for the quantity of motion (size times speed), particularly its largely neglected "dual role" as a measure of both durational motion and instantaneous "tendencies towards motion". Overall, an underlying non-local, or "holistic", element of quantity of motion (largely derived from his statics) will be revealed as central to a full understanding of the conservation principle's conceptual development and intended…Read more
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335Another Go-Around on Leibniz and RotationThe Leibniz Review 19 131-137. 2009.This essay comments on the complexity of the task of accommodating Leibniz’s account of relational motion with his dynamics, as evident in Anja Jauernig’s (2008) Leibniz Review article, and suggests some possible strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
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574The Deep Metaphysics of Quantum Gravity: The Seventeenth Century Legacy and an Alternative Ontology Beyond Substantivalism and RelationismStudies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 44 (4): 490-499. 2013.This essay presents an alternative to contemporary substantivalist and relationist interpretations of quantum gravity hypotheses by means of an historical comparison with the ontology of space in the seventeenth century. Utilizing differences in the spatial geometry between the foundational theory and the theory derived from the foundational, in conjunction with nominalism and platonism, it will be argued that there are crucial similarities between seventeenth century and contemporary theories o…Read more
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507On Structuralism’s Multiple Paths through Spacetime TheoriesEuropean Journal for Philosophy of Science 2 (1): 45-66. 2012.This essay examines the underdetermination problem that plagues structuralist approaches to spacetime theories, with special emphasis placed on the epistemic brands of structuralism, whether of the scientific realist variety or not. Recent non-realist structuralist accounts, by Friedman and van Fraassen, have touted the fact that different structures can accommodate the same evidence as a virtue vis-à-vis their realist counterparts; but, as will be argued, these claims gain little traction again…Read more
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195This paper explores the possibility of constructing a Cartesian space-time that can resolve the dilemma posed by a famous argument from Newton's early essay, De gravitatione. In particular, Huygens' concept of a center-of-mass reference frame is utilized in an attempt to reconcile Descartes' relationalist theory of space and motion with both the Cartesian analysis of bodily impact and conservation law for quantity of motion. After presenting a modern formulation of a Cartesian space-time employi…Read more
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741Descartes and Individual Corporeal SubstanceBritish Journal for the History of Philosophy 9 (1). 2001.This essay explores the vexed issue of individual corporeal substance in Descartes' natural philosophy. Although Descartes' often referred to individual material objects as separate substances, the constraints on his definitions of matter and substance would seem to favor the opposite view; namely, that there exists only one corporeal substance, the plenum. In contrast to this standard interpretation, however, it will be demonstrated that Descartes' hypotheses make a fairly convincing case for t…Read more
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704On the Cartesian Ontology of General Relativity: Or, Conventionalism in the History of the Substantival‐Relational DebatePhilosophy of Science 72 (5): 1312-1323. 2005.Utilizing Einstein’s comparison of General Relativity and Descartes’ physics, this investigation explores the alleged conventionalism that pervades the ontology of substantival and relationist conceptions of spacetime. Although previously discussed, namely by Rynasiewicz and Hoefer, it will be argued that the close similarities between General Relativity and Cartesian physics have not been adequately treated in the literature—and that the disclosure of these similarities bolsters the case for a …Read more
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537The ‘Space’ at the Intersection of Platonism and NominalismJournal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 46 (2): 393-408. 2015.This essay explores the use of platonist and nominalist concepts, derived from the philosophy of mathematics and metaphysics, as a means of elucidating the debate on spacetime ontology and the spatial structures endorsed by scientific realists. Although the disputes associated with platonism and nominalism often mirror the complexities involved with substantivalism and relationism, it will be argued that a more refined three-part distinction among platonist/nominalist categories can nonetheless …Read more
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324This essay critically examines Joseph Rouse's arguments against, what he dubs, the "legitimation project", which are the attempts to delimit and justify the scientific enterprise by means of global, "a priori" principles. Stipulating that a more adequate picture of science can be obtained by viewing it as a continuously transforming pattern of situated activities, Rouse believes that only by refocusing attention upon the actual practice of science can philosophers begin to detach themselves from…Read more
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649Newton's Metaphysics of Space: A “Tertium Quid” Betwixt Substantivalism and Relationism, or merely a “God of the (Rational Mechanical) Gaps”?Perspectives on Science 17 (4). 2009.This paper investigates the question of, and the degree to which, Newton’s theory of space constitutes a third-way between the traditional substantivalist and relationist ontologies, i.e., that Newton judged that space is neither a type of substance/entity nor purely a relation among such substances. A non-substantivalist reading of Newton has been famously defended by Howard Stein, among others; but, as will be demonstrated, these claims are problematic on various grounds, especially as regards…Read more
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962Descartes, Spacetime, and Relational MotionPhilosophy of Science 66 (1): 117-139. 1999.This paper examines Descartes' problematic relational theory of motion, especially when viewed within the context of his dynamics, the Cartesian natural laws. The work of various commentators on Cartesian motion is also surveyed, with particular emphasis placed upon the recent important texts of Garber and Des Chene. In contrast to the methodology of most previous interpretations, however, this essay employs a modern "spacetime" approach to the problem. By this means, the role of dynamics in Des…Read more
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321A Historical Defence of Non-Spacetime Hypotheses: Non-Local Beables and Leibnizian UbeityPhilosophia Scientiae 20 149-166. 2016.Do theories of quantum mechanics and quantum gravity require spacetime to be a basic, ground level feature, or can spacetime be seen as an emergent element of these theories? While several commentators have raised serious doubts about the prospects of forgoing the standard spacetime backdrop, it will be argued that a defense of these emergent spacetime interpretations of quantum mechanics and quantum gravity hypotheses can be made, whether as an inference to the best explanation or using another…Read more
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311The Fate of Mathematical Place: Objectivity and the Theory of Lived-Space from Husserl to CaseyIn Vesselin Petkov (ed.), Space, Time, and Spacetime, Springer Verlag. pp. 291-312. 2010.This essay explores theories of place, or lived-space, as regards the role of objectivity and the problem of relativism. As will be argued, the neglect of mathematics and geometry by the lived-space theorists, which can be traced to the influence of the early phenomenologists, principally the later Husserl and Heidegger, has been a major contributing factor in the relativist dilemma that afflicts the lived-space movement. By incorporating various geometrical concepts within the analysis of place…Read more
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264Perfect Solidity: Natural Laws and the Problem of Matter in Descartes' UniverseHistory of Philosophy Quarterly 13 (2). 1996.In the Principles of Philosophy, Descartes attempts to explicate the well-known phenomena of varying bodily size through an appeal to the concept of "solidity," a notion that roughly corresponds to our present-day concept of density. Descartes' interest in these issues can be partially traced to the need to define clearly the role of matter in his natural laws, a problem particularly acute for the application of his conservation principle. Specifically, since Descartes insists that a body's "qua…Read more
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77Moral and Scientific Explanation: Re-examining the Harman/Sturgeon DebateCogito 13 (1): 39-44. 1999.This paper examines the status of explanation in the natural sciences and ethics by focusing on the important role of empirical evidence and theoretical properties. As a means of exploring these issues, the debate between Nicholas Sturgeon and Gilbert Harman will serve as a central point in the discussion, since Sturgeon has provided several arguments against Harman's attempt to draw a distinction between scientific and moral explanation. Specifically, Sturgeon holds that the special function of…Read more
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278Descartes’ Forgotten Hypotheses on MotionJournal of Philosophical Research 27 433-448. 2002.This essay explores two of the more neglected hypotheses that comprise, or supplement, Descartes’ relationalist doctrine of bodily motion. These criteria are of great importance, for they would appear to challenge Descartes’ principal judgment that motion is a purely reciprocal change of a body’s contiguous neighborhood. After critiquing the work of the few commentators who have previously examined these forgotten hypotheses, mainly, D. Garber and M. Gueroult, the overall strengths and weaknesse…Read more
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269Introduction to Special Issue on Seventeenth Century Absolute Space and TimeIntellectual History Review 22 (1): 1-3. 2012.The articles that comprise this special issue of Intellectual History Review are briefly described.
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33The Structure of Musical RevolutionsPhilosophy Now 59 9-11. 2007.This essay constructs a non-scientific analogy that can help to explain the nature and purpose of Kuhn's philosophical concepts, especially his notion of a scientific "paradigm". The non-scientific topic that is employed to achieve this result is the history of musical styles and the structure of musical compositions.
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365Review of Michael Futch, Leibniz’s Metaphysics of Time and Space (review)Metascience 19 (3): 395-397. 2010.A review of Futch's book on Leibniz' natural philosophy of time and space.
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564Newton’s Neo-Platonic Ontology of SpaceFoundations of Science 18 (3): 419-448. 2013.This paper investigates Newton’s ontology of space in order to determine its commitment, if any, to both Cambridge neo-Platonism, which posits an incorporeal basis for space, and substantivalism, which regards space as a form of substance or entity. A non-substantivalist interpretation of Newton’s theory has been famously championed by Howard Stein and Robert DiSalle, among others, while both Stein and the early work of J. E. McGuire have downplayed the influence of Cambridge neo-Platonism on va…Read more
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450Hume and the Perception of Spatial MagnitudeCanadian Journal of Philosophy 34 (3). 2004.This paper investigates Hume's theory of the perception of spatial magnitude or size as developed in the _Treatise<D>, as well as its relation to his concepts of space and geometry. The central focus of the discussion is Hume's espousal of the 'composite' hypothesis, which holds that perceptions of spatial magnitude are composed of indivisible sensible points, such that the total magnitude of a visible figure is a derived by-product of its component parts. Overall, it will be argued that a strai…Read more
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488Cartesianism and the Kinematics of Mechanisms: Or, How to find Fixed Reference Frames in a Cartesian Space-timeNoûs 32 (3): 364-385. 1998.In De gravitatione, Newton contends that Descartes' physics is fundamentally untenable since the "fixed" spatial landmarks required to ground the concept of inertial motion cannot be secured in the constantly changing Cartesian plenum. Likewise, it is has often been alleged that the collision rules in Descartes' Principles of Philosophy undermine the "relational" view of space and motion advanced in this text. This paper attempts to meet these challenges by investigating the theory of connected …Read more
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592Leibniz and the Metaphysics of MotionJournal of Early Modern Studies 2 (2): 56-77. 2013.This essay develops a interpretation of Leibniz’ theory of motion that strives to integrate his metaphysics of force with his doctrine of the equivalence of hypotheses, but which also supports a realist, as opposed to a fully idealist, interpretation of his natural philosophy. Overall, the modern approaches to Leibniz’ physics that rely on a fixed spacetime backdrop, classical mechanical constructions, or absolute speed, will be revealed as deficient, whereas a more adequate interpretation will …Read more
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218Review of Tad Schmaltz, Descartes on Causation. (review)Hopos: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science 1 (1): 165-169. 2011.A review of Tad Schmaltz' book on Descartes on causation.
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56Review of Edward J. Khamara, Space, Time, and Theology in the Leibniz-Newton Controversy (review)Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews 2007 (1). 2007.
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165Myth, Music, and Science: Teaching the Philosophy of Science through the Use of Non-Scientific ExamplesScience & Education 12 (3): 289-302. 2003.This essay explores the benefits of utilizing non-scientific examples and analogies in teaching philosophy of science courses. These examples can help resolve two basic difficulties faced by most instructors, especially when teaching lower-level courses: first, they can prompt students to take an active interest in the class material, since the examples will involve aspects of the culture well-known, or at least more interesting, to the students; and second, these familiar, less-threatening exam…Read more
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62Descartes' PhysicsStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2008.This is the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry for Descartes' physics
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1102Newton's Ontology of Omnipresence and Infinite SpaceOxford Studies in Early Modern Philosophy 6 279-308. 2013.This essay explores the role of God’s omnipresence in Newton’s natural philosophy, with special emphasis placed on how God is related to space. Unlike Descartes’ conception, which denies the spatiality of God, or Gassendi and Charleton’s view, which regards God as completely whole in every part of space, it is argued that Newton accepts spatial extension as a basic aspect of God’s omnipresence. The historical background to Newton’s spatial ontology assumes a large part of our investigation, but …Read more
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