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History of Galileo’s Inclined Plane Experiment and Its Philosophical Implications

Author: 
Year:
Pages:220
ISBN:0-7734-1481-9
978-0-7734-1481-5
Price:$179.95
The book is a history and philosophy of Galileo's inclined plane experiment. It deploys an integrated historical pragmatist methodology to reflect on what we can learn from those events and their significance for our understanding of experimental practice in science.

Reviews

“Anyone who reads it will be provoked to reassess their knowledge of Galileo, their assumptions about history of science, and, at the most fundamental level, their understanding of the relationship between experience and knowledge.”-Prof. David Wooton, The University of York

“…based on meticulous re-enactments and reconstructions of Galileo’s experiments, not merely in terms of equipment and technique but also in terms of exactly how Galileo and his contemporaries experienced what was going on.” Prof. Andrew Gregory, University College, London

“…the (author’s) attempt to bridge the gap between different disciplines will be welcomed by all those who feel that cross-fertilization remains important for the development of both science and the humanities.” -Prof. William Shea, University of Padua

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Preface

Introduction

CHAPTER 1. THE INCLINED PLANE EXPERIMENT

1.1 Subject matter and methodology

1.2 A brief introduction to the inclined plane

CHAPTER 2. SPEED PHENOMENA

2.1 The scribe

2.2 Quantification of qualitative change

2.3 The scribe's fundamental ontology

2.4 Inclined plane and acceleration

CHAPTER 3. SOUNDS OF THE PLANE

3.1 The psychoacoustics workshop of Galileo's father

3.2 The microtones of speed

3.3 Cadence on the senses

CHAPTER 4. THE FOOTPRINT OF PITCH

4.1 On the termini of things

4.2 Making glass and brass sing

4.3 Touching acceleration

CHAPTER 5. COPING WITH FRICTION

5.1 Reaction and resistance

5.2 Unstable patterns of acceleration

5.3 Atomism, friction, and acceleration

CHAPTER 6. INCLINED PLANE COSMOGONY

6.1 Lucretius on fall in the void

6.2 Galileo's pathway to fall in the void

6.3 Inclined plane cosmogony

CHAPTER 7. EPISTEMOLOGY OF EXPERIENCE

7.1 Theory and praxis

7.2 Galileo on Tasso's poetry

7.3 Galileo's epistemology of experience

Conclusion

Bibliography

Name and Subject Index