Three Criticisms of Newton’s Inductive Argument in the Principia

Nicholas  Maxwell

doi:10.4236/ahs.2014.31002

Nicholas Maxwell^*

Abstract: In this paper, I discuss how Newton’s inductive argument of the Principia can be defended against criticisms leveled against it by Duhem, Popper and myself. I argue that Duhem’s and Popper’s criticisms can be countered, but mine cannot. It requires that we reconsider, not just Newton’s inductive argument in the Principia, but also the nature of science more generally. The methods of science, whether conceived along inductivist or hypothetico-deductivist lines, make implicit metaphysical presuppositions which rigorously require us to make them explicit within science so that they can be critically assessed, alternatives being developed and assessed, in the hope that they can be improved. Despite claiming to derive his law of gravitation by induction from phenomena without resource to hypotheses, Newton does nevertheless acknowledge in the Principia that his rules of reasoning make metaphysical presuppositions. To this extent, Newton has a more enlightened view of scientific method than most 20th and 21st century scientists and historians and philosophers of science.

Keywords: Newton; Principia; Newton’s Inductive Argument; Three Criticisms; Duhem; Popper; Metaphysical Presuppositions of Scientific Method; Theoretical Unity; New Conception of Science

Cite this paper: Maxwell, N. (2014). Three Criticisms of Newton’s Inductive Argument in the Principia. Advances in Historical Studies, 3, 2-11. doi: 10.4236/ahs.2014.31002.

References

[1] Duhem, P. (1962). The aim and structure of physical theory. New York: Atheneum.

[2] Harper, W. L. (2011). Isaac Newton’s scientific method. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[3] Hume, D. (1959). A treatise of human nature. Book 1. London: Everyman.

[4] Koyré, A. (1965). Newtonian studies. London: Chapman and Hall.

[5] Maxwell, N. (1974). The rationality of scientific discovery. Philosophy of Science, 41, 123-153, 247-295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/288579

[6] Maxwell, N. (1993). Induction and scientific realism. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 44, 61-79, 81-101, 275-305. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjps/44.1.61

[7] Maxwell, N. (1998). The comprehensibility of the universe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[8] Maxwell, N. (2000). A new conception of science. Physics World, 13, 17-18.

[9] Maxwell, N. (2002). The need for a revolution in the philosophy of science. Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 33, 381-408. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1022480009733

[10] Maxwell, N. (2004). Is science neurotic? London: Imperial College Press.

[11] Maxwell, N. (2005). Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos and aim-oriented empiricism. Philosophia, 32, 181-239.

[12] Maxwell, N. (2007). From knowledge to wisdom. London: Pentire Press.

[13] Maxwell, N. (2011). A priori conjectural knowledge in physics. In M. Shaffer, & M. Veber (Eds.), What place for the a priori (pp. 211-240)? Chicago: Open Court.

[14] Maxwell, N. (2013). Has science established that the universe is physiccally comprehensible? In A. Travena, & B. Soen (Eds.), Recent advances in cosmology. New York: Nova Publishers Inc.

[15] Newton, I. (1962). Principia, A. Motte’s translation revised by F. Cajori. Berkeley: University of California Press.

[16] Popper, K. R. (1959). The logic of scientific discovery. London: Hutchinson.

[17] Popper, K. R. (1963). Conjectures and refutations. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

[18] Popper, K. R. (1972). Objective knowledge. London: Oxford University Press.