The mathematization of nature and the philosophical foundations of mechanical theory

• Autor(a) principal: Chiappin, J. R. N.
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Argumentos : Revista de Filosofia (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://periodicos.ufc.br/argumentos/article/view/19032
• topic: Mechanical Theory. Mechanical Models. Mathematization of Nature. Sinthetical Method Analytic mechanics.; Teoria Mecânica. Modelos Mecânicos. Matematização da Natureza. Método Sintético. Mecânica Analítica.

The aim is approaching the problem of the mathematization, as knowledge philosophy, and representation of the natural phenomena according to the synthetic method of mechanical theory. This method reduces physical theory to building up mechanical models. The criticism to this approach, by construction of bizarre models, is followed by the development of the analytic mechanics and its interpretation as a language and its extension to other domains of physics. The conflict between both interpretations defines the background for the debate between Duhem and Poincaré on the cognitive value of science the source of Duhem ́s structural and convergent realism.