Solomon, Monica
(2022)
Newton’s Bucket Experiment: Fictional or Real?
In: UNSPECIFIED.
Abstract
Newton’s example of a revolving bucket filled with water is one of the most well-known experiments in the philosophy of physics. It is usually interpreted as an argument for the existence of absolute space. In this paper I challenge this interpretation. In line with recent literature, I explain that a target of the example is the inadequacy of Descartes’s definition of motion. But I also a raise a serious problem for the current reading which comes from the attribution of “absolute and true circular motion” to the water revolving inside the bucket. The solution resides in an examination of Newton’s meticulous experimental setup as a self-contained, realistic description of how the quantity of true motion of a body of water changes (under which conditions and with what kind of effects). I argue that the example should be read as real experiment and that it exemplifies a double methodological aspect. The example presents an analysis of true motion which connects (i) the concrete causes of changes in motion with (ii) their quantitative representation.
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}