Greek origins

Capecchi, Danilo

doi:10.1007/978-88-470-2056-6_3

Greek origins

Danilo Capecchi²

Chapter

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Part of the book series: Science Networks. Historical Studies ((SNHS,volume 42))

Abstract

This chapter explains the meaning of the partition of Greek mechanics into Aristotelian and Archimedean. In the first part the Aristotelian mechanics is considered that identifies as a principle the following VWL based on virtual velocity: The effectiveness of a weight on a scale or a lever is the greater the greater its virtual Velocity. In the central part the Archimedean mechanics is considered where there is no reference to any VWL. In the final part devoted to the late Hellenistic mechanics, the VWL of Hero of Alexandria is considered for which the possibility of raising a weight is determined by the ratio of its virtual displacement and that of the power. The law is presented not as a principle but as a simple corollary of equilibrium.

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Notes

1.
p. 447.
2.
vol. I, p. 483.
3.
Marcellus.
4.
p. 331.
5.
IV, 8, 215a.
6.
IV, 8, 215b.
7.
I, 6, 274a.
8.
Chapter 7.
9.
Chapter 9.
10.
VI, 2; VII, 4.
11.
Chapter 3.
12.
VI, 2, 233b.
13.
VII, 5, 249b.
14.
VII, 5, 243a.
15.
VII, 5, 243b.
16.
III, 2, 301b.
17.
IV, 8, 215b.
18.
During the Middle Ages and Renaissance the attribution of the Mechanica problemata to Aristotle was substantially undisputed. For the attributions in more recent periods see [15]. It is worth noticing that Fritz Kraft considers the Mechanica problemata to be an early work by Aristotle, when he had not yet fully developed his physical concepts [348, 378]. A recent paper by Winter considers Archytas of Tarentum as the author of Mechanica problemata [398].
19.
pp. 136–137.
20.
pp. 331–333.
21.
pp. 341–343.
22.
p. 67.
23.
Rotated ninety degrees clockwise, [15] p. 67.
24.
p. 10.
25.
pp. 353, 355.
26.
p. 4.
27.
pp. 54–55. Translation by [298], p. 14.
28.
p. 6.
29.
pp. 72–73.
30.
pp. 86–87; 122–123.
31.
pp. 6–7.
32.
pp. 189–192.
33.
p. 190.
34.
p. 89.
35.
pp. 192–193.
36.
p. 3.
37.
pp. 9–11; 512–513.
38.
pp. 470–472.
39.
p. 25.
40.
p. 8.
41.
There is also an English version by Jutta Miller [133] on the web page of the Max Plank Institute, Berlin.
42.
p. 73. Translation in [133].
43.
a) p. 167; b) p. 169; c) p. 172; d) p. 182.
44.
pp. 88–89. Translation in [133].
45.
p. 77. Translation in [133].
46.
pp.106-107. Translation in [133].
47.
p. 127. Translation in [133].
48.
p. 99.
49.
pp. 115–116. Translation in [133].
50.
Chapter 1.
51.
vol. 1, p. 186.
52.
p. 132. Translation in [133].
53.
pp. 131–132, 134. Translation in [133].
54.
pp. 149–150. Translation in [133].
55.
p. 41.
56.
p. 71.
57.
To point out an edition by John Wallis in 1688.
58.
p. 9.
59.
p. 23.
60.
p. 62.
61.
p. 23.
62.
p. 56.

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Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
Danilo Capecchi

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Capecchi, D. (2012). Greek origins. In: History of Virtual Work Laws. Science Networks. Historical Studies, vol 42. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2056-6_3

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2056-6_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Milano
Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2055-9
Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2056-6
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