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Single Idea 15972

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 7. Later Matter Theories / b. Corpuscles ]

Full Idea

Though there is motion, the corpuscles will not be dynamic because the idea of forces between the particles or groups of them does not figure in the theory.

Gist of Idea

The corpuscular theory allows motion, but does not include forces between the particles

Source

report of Robert Boyle (The Origin of Forms and Qualities [1666]) by Peter Alexander - Ideas, Qualities and Corpuscles 5.2

Book Ref

Alexander,Peter: 'Ideas, Qualities and Corpuscles' [CUP 1985], p.120


A Reaction

This is the view of Locke, as well as of Boyle. I quote this because I take to it be a particular target of Leibniz's disagreement.


The 10 ideas from 'The Origin of Forms and Qualities'

Boyle's secondary qualities are not illusory, or 'in the mind' [Boyle, by Alexander,P]
Boyle attacked a contemporary belief that powers were occult things [Boyle, by Alexander,P]
In the 17th century, 'disposition' usually just means the spatial arrangement of parts [Boyle, by Pasnau]
Boyle's term 'texture' is not something you feel, but is unobservable structures of particles [Boyle, by Alexander,P]
The corpuscles just have shape, size and motion, which explains things without 'sympathies' or 'forces' [Boyle, by Alexander,P]
The corpuscular theory allows motion, but does not include forces between the particles [Boyle, by Alexander,P]
Form is not a separate substance, but just the manner, modification or 'stamp' of matter [Boyle]
Essential definitions show the differences that discriminate things, and make them what they are [Boyle]
Explanation is deducing a phenomenon from some nature better known to us [Boyle]
To cite a substantial form tells us what produced the effect, but not how it did it [Boyle]