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The Principle of Continuity and the Evaluation of Theories

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2010

William Seager
William Seager
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Extract

Perhaps the Clearest and most impressive use of the Principle of Continuity by Leibniz in the evaluation of a theory is that offered in refutation of the Cartesian laws of motion, as given in his Critical Remarks Concerning the General Part of Descartes' Principles. With regard to the Cartesian laws of impact Leibniz says:

On Article 49. Rule 4. If B, which is moving, is smaller than C, which is at rest, B will be reflected with the velocity it had before the shock while C will remain at rest.

Type
Articles
Information
Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review / Revue canadienne de philosophie , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , September 1981 , pp. 485 - 495
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Philosophical Association 1981

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References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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