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Although Descartes' natural philosophy marked an advance in the development of modern science, many critics over the years, such as Newton, have rejected his particular `relational' theory of space and motion. Nevertheless, it is also true that most historians and philosophers have not sufficiently investigated the viability of the Cartesian theory. This book explores, consequently, the success of the arguments against Descartes' theory of space and motion by determining if it is possible to formulate a version that can eliminate its alleged problems. In essence, this book comprises the first sustained attempt to construct a consistent `Cartesian' spacetime theory: that is, a theory of space and time that consistently incorporates Descartes' various physical and metaphysical concepts. Intended for students in the history of philosophy and science, this study reveals the sophisticated insights, and often quite successful elements, in Descartes' unjustly neglected relational theory of space and motion.

Descartes, René, --- Contributions in physics --- Contributions in philosophy of nature --- Views on space and time --- Views on motion. --- Space and time --- History --- Descartes, René, --- Contributions in physics. --- Contributions in philosophy of nature. --- Views on space and time. --- Space of more than three dimensions --- Space-time --- Space-time continuum --- Space-times --- Spacetime --- Time and space --- Fourth dimension --- Infinite --- Metaphysics --- Philosophy --- Space sciences --- Time --- Beginning --- Hyperspace --- Relativity (Physics) --- Descartes, Renatus --- Cartesius, Renatus --- Descartes, René --- Motion --- Modern philosophy. --- Physics. --- Metaphysics. --- Applied mathematics. --- Engineering mathematics. --- Modern Philosophy. --- History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics. --- Applications of Mathematics. --- Engineering --- Engineering analysis --- Mathematical analysis --- God --- Ontology --- Philosophy of mind --- Natural philosophy --- Philosophy, Natural --- Physical sciences --- Dynamics --- Modern philosophy --- Mathematics --- Space and time - History - 17th century. --- Descartes, rene (1596-1650) --- Physique --- Espace et temps (philosophie)

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This volume explores the inadequacies of the two standard conceptions of space or spacetime, substantivalism and relationism, and in the process, proposes a new historical interpretation of these physical theories. This book also examines and develops alternative ontological conceptions of space, and explores additional historical elements of seventeenth century theories and other metaphysical themes. The author first discusses the two main opposing theories of the ontology of space. One, known as substantivalism, proposes space to be an entity that can exist independently of material things. The other, relationism, contends that space is a relation among material things. Readers will learn about specific problems with this dichotomy. First, Newton and Leibniz are often upheld as the retrospective forerunners of substantivalism and relationism. But, their work often contradicts the central tenets of these views. Second, these theories have proven problematic when transferred to a modern setting, especially with regards to general relativity and the recent quantum gravity hypotheses. The author details an alternative set of concepts that address these problems. The author also develops a new classificational system that provides a more accurate taxonomy for the elements of all spatial ontologies. This classification obtains successful analogies between Newton, Leibniz, and other natural philosophers with contemporary physical theories.

Philosophy --- Metaphysics --- Philosophy of science --- Pure sciences. Natural sciences (general) --- History --- wetenschapsgeschiedenis --- filosofie --- geschiedenis --- wetenschapsfilosofie --- metafysica --- Philosophy and science. --- Metaphysics. --- History. --- Philosophy of Science. --- History of Science.