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Aristotle's Physics: A Physicist's Look

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2015

CARLO ROVELLI Open the ORCID record for CARLO ROVELLI [Opens in a new window]
CARLO ROVELLI*
Affiliation:
AIX MARSEILLE UNIVERSITÉ, MARSEILLE, FRANCE UNIVERSITÉ DE TOULON, GARDE, FRANCErovelli@cpt.univ-mrs.fr
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Abstract:

I show that Aristotelian physics is a correct and nonintuitive approximation of Newtonian physics in the suitable domain (motion in fluids) in the same technical sense in which Newton's theory is an approximation of Einstein's theory. Aristotelian physics lasted long not because it became dogma, but because it is a very good, empirically grounded theory. This observation suggests some general considerations on intertheoretical relationships.

Keywords

history of philosophyancient philosophyAristotlephilosophy of sciencephilosophy of physics

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Type
Articles
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Journal of the American Philosophical Association , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , Spring 2015 , pp. 23 - 40
Copyright
Copyright © American Philosophical Association 2015 

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