Pierre Gassendi's Philosophy And Science: Atomism for EmpiricistsThis look at Gassendi's philosophy and science illuminates his contributions to early modern thought and to the broader history of philosophy of science. Two keys to his thought are his novel picture of acquiring and judging empirical belief, and his liberal account of criteria for counting empirical beliefs as parts of warranted physical theories. By viewing his philosophical and scientific pursuits as part of one and the same project, Gassendi's arguments on behalf of atomism can be fruitfully explained as licensed by his empiricism. |
Contents
BassesAlpes Priest Provençal Scientist | 1 |
Chapter One The Skeptical Challenge an Empiricist | 19 |
Cautious License | 43 |
Chapter Three Empiricist Epistemic Warrant and Probabilist | 55 |
The Regressus | 89 |
Report of the Pascalian Experiment | 123 |
Chapter Six A Method of Hypotheses and Hypothetical | 149 |
From Ancient Atomist | 191 |
Chapter Nine Ultimate Particles and Essential Features | 213 |
Chapter Ten Atomic Motion Causal Role and Internal | 247 |
Chapter Eleven Explanatory Uses of the Atomist | 289 |
Chapter Twelve Atomism the Mechanical Philosophy | 321 |
Chapter Thirteen Atomism and Scientific Method | 343 |
Chapter Fourteen Is There a Circle in Gassendis | 367 |
Bibliography | 383 |
| 411 | |
Other editions - View all
Pierre Gassendi's Philosophy and Science: Atomism for Empiricists Saul Fisher No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
accept aggregates ampliative inference ancient appearances argument Aristotelian Aristotle atomic motion atomist barometry basis bodies Cambridge cartesian causal cause chapter classical cognitive concept constitute context corpuscles corpuscular corpuscularian criterion Democritus demonstration Descartes Descartes's discovery distinctive early modern elements empirical beliefs empirical knowledge empiricism empiricist entails Epicurean Epicurus epistemic epistemology evidence example experience explain explanatory force further Galileo Gassendi proposes Gassendi's view given hypotheses ical ideas identify images indicative signs induction inductive reasoning inertial infinitely Institutio judgments justified least logic Lucretius macro-level macro-sized objects magnetic matter theory mechanical philosophy mercury method move nature non-evident Paracelsan Paris particles particular perceive perception phenomena physical Pierre Gassendi possible principle probabilistic properties propositions q.v. O I qualities reasoning regressus Scholastic scientific senses sensory Sextus Empiricus sign-based inference Skeptics sort strategy structure syllogism Syntagma things tion trans true truth underlying understanding University Press viable void warrant yield