WILLEM JACOB ‘S GRAVESANDE’S METHODOLOGICAL VIEWS Cover Image

WILLEM JACOB ‘S GRAVESANDE’S METHODOLOGICAL VIEWS
WILLEM JACOB ‘S GRAVESANDE’S METHODOLOGICAL VIEWS

Author(s): Steffen Ducheyne
Subject(s): History of ideas, Methodology and research technology, 17th Century, 18th Century
Published by: Scientia Socialis, UAB
Keywords: Scientific methodology; Gravesande; Newton;
Summary/Abstract: That ‘s Gravesande (1688–1742) did not follow Newton’s doctrines ad literam has been frequently observed in the literature. Yet, despite such mitigation of ‘s Gravesande’s Newtonianism, it has frequently been maintained that he was an advocate of Newton’s methodology. Here I shall argue that, although ‘s Gravesande took over key terms of Newton’s methodological canon, upon close scrutiny, his methodological views were quite different from and occasionally even incongruent with Newton’s views on the matter.