Concerning some philosophical reasons for the recourse to mathematics in the study of physical phenomena in the thought of Newton and Leibniz

Kenneth Simonsen

pp. 57-65

in: Michael Heidelberger, Friedrich Stadler (eds), History of philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 2002

Abstract

Considering the physics of Newton and of Leibniz, we are confronted with two different ways of explaining physical phenomena and with different kinds of concepts. Whether we speak about space, time, force, matter, vortices etc., their conceptions diverge.

Cited authors

Leibniz Gottfried Wilhelm

Newton Isaac