Veldman, Michael (2023) Mathematizing Metaphysics: The Case of the Principle of Least Action. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Standard narratives about physical teleology say its death was a fait accompli of the Scientific Revolution, but the principle of least action (PLA) has been taken to instantiate teleology’s survival into Enlightenment physics. Other scholars claim this PLA-based teleological metaphysics fell to general philosophical attacks on final causes. None of these narratives fully captures the philosophical interest of its demise. It illustrates a metaphysics being refuted because it could not be coherently modeled in mathematics, hence directly through mathematization and not by philosophical argument or empirical test.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Veldman, Michael michael.veldman@duke.edu
Keywords:	least action, teleology, mathematization
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Depositing User:	Michael Veldman
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2023 17:01
Last Modified:	16 Oct 2023 17:01
Item ID:	22663
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.120
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Date:	2023
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22663

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