A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics

In the present essay we attempt to reconstruct Newtonian mechanics under the guidance of logical principles and of a constructive approach related to the genetic epistemology of Piaget and García (Psychogenesis and the history of science, Columbia University Press, New York, 1989). Instead of addres...

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Autores principales: Solari, H.G., Natiello, M.A.
Formato: INPR
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Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_12331821_v_n_p_Solari
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spelling todo:paper_12331821_v_n_p_Solari2023-10-03T16:09:10Z A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics Solari, H.G. Natiello, M.A. Central forces Energy conservation Genetic epistemology Law of inertia Laws of nature Newtonian mechanics No arbitrariness principle Objective versus subjective description Air navigation Energy conservation Central forces Genetic epistemology Law of inertia Laws of nature Newtonian mechanics Objective versus subjective description Mechanics In the present essay we attempt to reconstruct Newtonian mechanics under the guidance of logical principles and of a constructive approach related to the genetic epistemology of Piaget and García (Psychogenesis and the history of science, Columbia University Press, New York, 1989). Instead of addressing Newton’s equations as a set of axioms, ultimately given by the revelation of a prodigious mind, we search for the fundamental knowledge, beliefs and provisional assumptions that can produce classical mechanics. We start by developing our main tool: the no arbitrariness principle, that we present in a form that is apt for a mathematical theory as classical mechanics. Subsequently, we introduce the presence of the observer, analysing then the relation objective–subjective and seeking objectivity going across subjectivity. We take special care of establishing the precedence among all contributions to mechanics, something that can be better appreciated by considering the consequences of removing them: (a) the consequence of renouncing logic and the laws of understanding is not being able to understand the world, (b) renouncing the early elaborations of primary concepts such as time and space leads to a dissociation between everyday life and physics, the latter becoming entirely pragmatic and justified a-posteriori (because it is convenient), (c) changing our temporary beliefs has no real cost other than effort. Finally, we exemplify the present approach by reconsidering the constancy of the velocity of light. It is shown that it is a result of Newtonian mechanics, rather than being in contradiction with it. We also indicate the hidden assumption that leads to the (apparent) contradiction. © 2018, The Author(s). INPR info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_12331821_v_n_p_Solari
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Central forces
Energy conservation
Genetic epistemology
Law of inertia
Laws of nature
Newtonian mechanics
No arbitrariness principle
Objective versus subjective description
Air navigation
Energy conservation
Central forces
Genetic epistemology
Law of inertia
Laws of nature
Newtonian mechanics
Objective versus subjective description
Mechanics
spellingShingle Central forces
Energy conservation
Genetic epistemology
Law of inertia
Laws of nature
Newtonian mechanics
No arbitrariness principle
Objective versus subjective description
Air navigation
Energy conservation
Central forces
Genetic epistemology
Law of inertia
Laws of nature
Newtonian mechanics
Objective versus subjective description
Mechanics
Solari, H.G.
Natiello, M.A.
A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics
topic_facet Central forces
Energy conservation
Genetic epistemology
Law of inertia
Laws of nature
Newtonian mechanics
No arbitrariness principle
Objective versus subjective description
Air navigation
Energy conservation
Central forces
Genetic epistemology
Law of inertia
Laws of nature
Newtonian mechanics
Objective versus subjective description
Mechanics
description In the present essay we attempt to reconstruct Newtonian mechanics under the guidance of logical principles and of a constructive approach related to the genetic epistemology of Piaget and García (Psychogenesis and the history of science, Columbia University Press, New York, 1989). Instead of addressing Newton’s equations as a set of axioms, ultimately given by the revelation of a prodigious mind, we search for the fundamental knowledge, beliefs and provisional assumptions that can produce classical mechanics. We start by developing our main tool: the no arbitrariness principle, that we present in a form that is apt for a mathematical theory as classical mechanics. Subsequently, we introduce the presence of the observer, analysing then the relation objective–subjective and seeking objectivity going across subjectivity. We take special care of establishing the precedence among all contributions to mechanics, something that can be better appreciated by considering the consequences of removing them: (a) the consequence of renouncing logic and the laws of understanding is not being able to understand the world, (b) renouncing the early elaborations of primary concepts such as time and space leads to a dissociation between everyday life and physics, the latter becoming entirely pragmatic and justified a-posteriori (because it is convenient), (c) changing our temporary beliefs has no real cost other than effort. Finally, we exemplify the present approach by reconsidering the constancy of the velocity of light. It is shown that it is a result of Newtonian mechanics, rather than being in contradiction with it. We also indicate the hidden assumption that leads to the (apparent) contradiction. © 2018, The Author(s).
format INPR
author Solari, H.G.
Natiello, M.A.
author_facet Solari, H.G.
Natiello, M.A.
author_sort Solari, H.G.
title A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics
title_short A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics
title_full A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics
title_fullStr A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics
title_full_unstemmed A Constructivist View of Newton’s Mechanics
title_sort constructivist view of newton’s mechanics
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_12331821_v_n_p_Solari
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