Crombie’s Galileo’s Natural Philosophy: Disputation vs. Demonstration vs. Argumentation
Document Type
Book Section
Publication Date
8-29-2021
Publication Title
Science, Method, and Argument in Galileo
Publisher
Springer, Cham
Publisher Location
Cham, Switzerland
Volume
40
First page number:
437
Last page number:
459
Abstract
In the context of a critical examination of Alistair C. Crombie’s unpublished typescript Galileo’s Natural Philosophy, I explore several themes that are intrinsically important and widely present in Galileo’s scientific practice and methodological reflections. Crombie’s typescript is impressive for its erudition. Moreover, it is valuable for drawing attention to several documents that suggest some promising research projects. However, the typescript displays mostly what must be regarded as ill-digested syncretism. More importantly, its key interpretation of Galileo’s scientific methodology is deeply flawed for failing to understand and appreciate several Galilean distinctions: critical vs. a-critical disputation, necessary vs. contingent truth, mathematics vs. physics, and necessary demonstration vs. sense experience.
Controlled Subject
Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642; Philosophy of nature; Logic; Reasoning
Disciplines
Philosophy of Science
Language
English
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Repository Citation
Finocchiaro, M. A.
(2021).
Crombie’s Galileo’s Natural Philosophy: Disputation vs. Demonstration vs. Argumentation.
Science, Method, and Argument in Galileo, 40
437-459.
Cham, Switzerland: Springer, Cham.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77147-8_24