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Single Idea 13150
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / e. Anti scientific essentialism
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Full Idea
The motions which the planets now have could not spring from any natural cause alone, but were impressed by an intelligent agent.
Gist of Idea
The motions of the planets could only derive from an intelligent agent
Source
Isaac Newton (Letters to Bentley [1692], 1692.12.10)
Book Ref
Newton,Isaac: 'Philosophical Writings' [CUP 2004], p.95
A Reaction
He is writing to a cleric, but seems to be quite sincere about this. Elsewhere he just says he doesn't know what causes gravity.
The
17 ideas
with the same theme
[objections to essences in scientific investigation]:
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13296
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The cosmos has two elements - passive matter, and active cause (or reason) which shapes it
[Stoic school, by Seneca]
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13150
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The motions of the planets could only derive from an intelligent agent
[Newton]
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12178
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That gravity should be innate and essential to matter is absurd
[Newton]
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6734
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If properties and qualities arise from an inward essence, we will remain ignorant of nature
[Berkeley]
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12110
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We can never know origins, purposes or inner natures
[Comte]
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10246
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The limit of science is isomorphism of theories, with essences a matter of indifference
[Weyl]
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10931
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We can't say 'necessarily if x is in water then x dissolves' if we can't quantify modally
[Quine]
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17862
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Essence gives an illusion of understanding
[Quine, by Almog]
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12179
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Essentialist views of science prevent further questions from being raised
[Popper]
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5492
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How can essences generate the right powers to vary with distance between objects?
[Armstrong]
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16547
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H2O isn't necessary, because different laws of nature might affect how O and H combine
[Lowe]
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12243
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The reductionism found in scientific essentialism is mistaken
[Oderberg]
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4799
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Dispositional essentialism can't explain its key distinction between essential and non-essential properties
[Psillos]
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15178
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Can anything in science reveal the necessity of what it discovers?
[Sidelle]
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15706
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A major objection to real essences is the essentialising of social categories like race, caste and occupation
[Gelman]
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17864
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Defining an essence comes no where near giving a thing's nature
[Almog]
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17863
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Essences promise to reveal reality, but actually drive us away from it
[Almog]
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