Cartesian primary qualities in light of some contemporary physical explanations

Domazet, Mladen (2008) Cartesian primary qualities in light of some contemporary physical explanations. Prolegomena, 7 (1). pp. 21-35. ISSN 1333-4395 (Print), 1846-0593 (Online)

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Abstract

Descartes’ derivation of the primary qualities of matter and their role in explaining observed physical phenomena are briefly reviewed. The lesson drawn from Descartes’ methodology of explanation is that we ought to aim to reduce complex phenomena to simple unifying principles and conceptual primitives. Three proposed solutions to the apparent paradoxes in contemporary quantum physics (primarily associated with the notion of entanglement) are briefly compared with lessons taken from Descartes. It is argued that further research in this field should provide criteria for selecting modifications to the standard (largely Cartesian) conceptual scheme, along the lines of either visualisable causality or the physical spatial separability of all material objects. (IN CROATIAN: Članak počinje kratkim pregledom Descartesove derivacije primarnih kvaliteta materije i njihove uloge u objašnjenju zamijećenih fizikalnih pojava. Pouka izvedena iz Descartesove metodologije prirodoznanstvenih objašnjenja glasi da je složene pojave poželjno svesti na jednostavna objedinjujuća načela i temeljne, nedjeljive pojmove. Tri moguća objašnjenja navodnih paradoksa u suvremenoj kvantnoj fizici (prvenstveno povezanih s pojmom “isprepletenosti”) sažeto se prikazuje i uspoređuje s navedenom Descartesovom poukom. Zaključuje se da bi daljnja istraživanja u ovome području trebala iznjedriti kriterije prihvatljivosti izmjena standardne konceptualne (uvelike kartezijanske) sheme. Navedeni kriteriji trebaju se temeljiti ili na uzročnim procesima koji se mogu “vizualizirati” ili na ustrajanju na načelu fizikalne prostorne odvojivosti svih materijalnih predmeta.)

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Language: English. - Title in Croatian: Kartezijanske primarne kvalitete u svjetlu nekih suvremenih fizikalnih objašnjenja.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Descartes, explanation, primary qualities, quantum theory, separability (Descartes, kvantna teorija, objašnjenje, odvojivost, primarne kvalitete)
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Depositing User: Karolina Vranješ
Date Deposited: 02 Oct 2015 12:59
Last Modified: 02 Oct 2015 12:59
URI: http://idiprints.knjiznica.idi.hr/id/eprint/328

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