On Kant's Transcendental Account of Newtonian Mechanics

  • Pierre Kerszberg
Part of the The Western Ontario Series In Philosophy of Science book series (WONS, volume 74)

Abstract

Kant's account of Newtonian science in terms of a priori structures of the mind has been generally interpreted as too restrictive. If Newtonian science is an instantiation of the system of categories, then, in order to retain any value, they need to be dynamized in accordance with the development of science beyond Newton. This paper suggests that the restriction in best understood as Kant attempt to provide a primary matrix of sense for any possible natural science, inasmuch as it reflects the “first idea” contained in the Copernican Revolution.

Keywords

Natural Science Newtonian Mechanics True Motion Absolute Space Expansive Force 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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© Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Pierre Kerszberg

    There are no affiliations available

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