Natural Philosophy Research Articles

From the Editor: Dr. Still, Natural Philosopher

From the Editor: Dr. Still, Natural Philosopher

Rivers, Tides and Currents

Ideally, natural scientific theories, even the most speculative ones, need empirical confirmation, which, however, is not always possible and, even when achieved, cannot always be correctly interpreted. Moreover, as practical experience accumulates, the investigators of nature with more reason reject the least successful theories, and obtain new confirmations for the most successful ones. This is the way science works, both in modern times and in antiquity. Applied to the history of ancient hydrology, this means that we can trace the development of natural scientific ideas from early thinkers such as Thales, Empedocles, Diogenes of Apollonia, Plato,v and Aristotle, to the Roman and early Byzantine period, represented by encyclopaedic authors such as Posidonius, Seneca, Strabo, and Alexander of Aphrodisias. As a result, we will see not only the evolution of natural scientific ideas, but also, in some cases, we will be able to assess the methodological and empirical acceptability of the physical ideas of late antiquity, which emerged as a result of the trial and error of ancient naturalists and their long reflection on the riddles of nature. In general, the article is devoted to the ancient concept of the circulation of water in nature. In its first part special attention is given to an analogy between natural phenomena and the processes occurring in living organisms, common to our philosophers of nature, as well as the peculiarities of their interpretation of the theory of mutual transformation of the elements. We note the place of the method of analogy in their observations and theoretical constructions. The second part of the article is dedicated to tides and sea currents. We look at the history of their observation in antiquity as well as alternative theories, designed to explain their nature. Special attention is given to ancient explanation of the phenomenon of the periodical change of the stream in Euripus’ channel (Chalkida, Greece).

Treinta años de la Ley General de Educación colombiana: un planteamiento sobre la autonomía estudiantil

On February 8, 2024, Colombia celebrated the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the General Education Law, which places autonomy as one of its core principles. The gap between what the law stipulates regarding this principle, and the realities experienced in some classrooms, both in basic and secondary education, as well as in undergraduate and even graduate education, appears to be, at the very least, immense. This discussion aims to reflect on the principle-concept of student autonomy from a philosophical and psycho-pedagogical perspective oriented toward identifying progress in the implementation of the General Education Law in Colombia. Through a qualitative methodology, the concept of autonomy is approached from natural language, philosophy, and legislation. Some successful experiences are described where autonomous student development and teaching and learning processes were achieved. Citizen autonomy is considered the foundation for the strengthening and development of successful, or at least functional, societies, and in this sense, it is shown how, from the experiences and dynamics of the Colombian educational system, the path to forming autonomous individuals is still far from being achieved. It is concluded that rethinking the role of the agents linked to the educational context will be essential if the course is to be changed.

The Gordian Knot of Consciousness Meets the Sword of Darwinism

Veit criticizes autopoiesis as a competitor with the pathological complexity thesis as an explanation for the origins of consciousness. I argue that this characterization of autopoiesis conflates what I call “autopoiesis 1.0” and “autopoiesis 2.0.” Autopoiesis 1.0, as originally construed by Maturana and Varela, disregarded environmental explanations and focused on autopoiesis as a specific class of mechanisms. Autopoiesis 2.0 is heavily influenced by Hans Jonas and other thinkers in the tradition of Naturphilosophie. Despite the similarity in name, this is quite different from Veit’s contribution to philosophy of nature in the sense of Dennett, Godfrey-Smith, and Sterelny. Veit’s project has much to offer autopoietic enactivists but it is different kind of project. This difference is crucial for assessing how these projects can contribute to each other.

The Evolution of Philosophical Interpretation in Islam: From Classical to Modern

This research examines the evolution of philosophical interpretation (tafsir falsafi) from the classical to the modern period within the context of the Islamic intellectual heritage. Philosophical interpretation, integral to the journey of Muslim scholars since the classical era, serves as a "gateway" to the progress of Islamic thought. However, the philosophical nature of this interpretation has sparked controversy and is deemed problematic from an epistemological perspective, becoming a focal point of debate among the Muslim community. The research employs a library research method, utilizing various literature sources as supporting evidence, with a primary focus on both primary and secondary data. The findings indicate that the emergence of philosophical interpretation is linked to the translation of Greek works into Arabic. Some fully reject or accept it, while others integrate it with Eastern traditions. Overall, a comprehensive interpretation fully incorporating the philosophical style has not been found; usually, this style is expressed separately through writings that do not specifically interpret the Quran. The epistemology of early-generation philosophical interpretation tends to be peripatetic, involving the use of reason in discussing aspects such as divinity, the afterlife, and scientific disciplines. Some figures or philosophers relevant to the philosophical interpretation of Quranic verses include al-Kindi, al-Farabi, the Ikhwan al-Shafa order, and Ibn Sina.

Una breve storia dei concetti di matematica e fisica

It is shown that there is no clear boundary between mathematics and physics, and a brief history of the concepts of mathematics and physics is outlined. Not only the scientists of antiquity, but also Copernicus and Galileo referred to all the exact sciences by the term mathematics and used the word physics for the philosophy of nature. In Newton’s time, the unity of the exact sciences broke down, and from the combination of part of mathematics with the philosophy of nature modern physics was born. The article then describes how mathematical physics, which began as part of physics, was pushed back into mathematics by the birth of theoretical physics. Finally, the epistemological status of the current branches of the exact sciences is discussed.

THE MORTAL SUBJECT OF RADICAL REFLECTION

This article reconsiders the concept of radical reflection in Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Perception, arguing that, in its decentring of the subject who engages in reflection, radical reflection intimates a distinct theory of this very subject – one which will be developed in the final section of the Phenomenology and elsewhere. This reading diverges from those which consider radical reflection strictly in terms of a deflation of the reflective subject, and which position the concept in relation to a philosophy of nature as a process into which this subject would effectively be subsumed. My reading instead proposes that the critical insight of radical reflection into the worldly, situated, and finite character of philosophical reflection articulates three essential dimensions of subjectivity: self-consciousness, sociality, and (consciousness of) mortality. In developing this account of the subject of radical reflection, the article shows such a conception of subjectivity to be at stake at once in Merleau-Ponty’s approach to phenomenology and in his work on history and politics.

Kant and Schelling on Metaphysical Disagreement

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the role of disagreement in relation to the goals of metaphysical inquiry. In particular, I will discuss two reactions to Kant’s initial observation that metaphysics does not make any lasting progress: Kant’s own demand for a critical revision of metaphysics and Schelling’s ideas as presented in his 1821 lecture On the Nature of Philosophy as a Science. Kant’s account allows for an appreciation of metaphysical conflict as a necessary precondition for a critically revised system of pure reason. However, he thinks that such a system will ultimately replace all previous ones and thereby make further development of metaphysics obsolete. Although Schelling appropriates Kant’s notion of systematicity, he arrives at a positive evaluation of metaphysical disagreement as an expression of freedom which articulates itself within the history of metaphysics. I argue that Schelling’s view also entails that the history of metaphysics is an ongoing process rather than terminating in an ultimate system or a withdrawal from metaphysical inquiry. Thus, we get to see a) that Kant himself (not just his post-Kantian successors) entertains an account of the essential historicity of reason and b) how Schelling both preserves and transforms the Kantian legacy of a philosophical history of metaphysics.

Death and Spirit in Hegel’s Philosophy of Nature

The text discusses the problem of the relationship between nature and thinking in Hegel’s Encyclopaedia of the Philosophical Sciences (1830). By considering the dialectics of natural life and the significance of death of the individual for the emergence of spirit in nature, it is argued that spirit, in the Hegelian perspective of speculative thinking, does not emerge from nature as its otherness, as „a more beautiful nature“ that has overcome death. Rather, it appears as a negativity and impotence in nature itself, as the infinite potential of Nature‘s mutability. This highlights the ambivalent unity of nature and thought and the threat of the naturalisation of each.

Paper Crystallisations

Abstract This essay investigates the graphical and diagrammatic techniques the Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695) employs in his meteorological investigations. A distinction is discerned between Huygens’ drawings of crystalline structures under the microscope, and his hypothetical modelling of different types of atmospheric light-refracting bodies. It is demonstrated, however, that both domains of inquiry are intricately connected through Huygens’ longstanding interest in “wondrous” light refraction phenomena in the atmosphere, such as solar halos and parhelia.

A melody that sings itself

In his lectures on the philosophy of nature, Maurice Merleau-Ponty interprets Jakob von Uexküll’s notion of Umwelt as akin to a melody. This essay outlines von Uexküll’s perspective on the feasibility of translating non-acoustic elements (optical: colours, shapes, and figures; haptic: tactile textures, flavours, tastes, and scents) into sounds or musical notes to compose a melody. It poses several inquiries: Does the link between melody and nature render natural entities as musical notes? Do the components of an entity constitute anatomical notes in the melody that defines the entity itself? Is it conceivable to distil every moment in life into a “note” symbol on a musical scale, characterised by specific duration, pitch, and volume? Melody, rhythm, and harmony are considered sophisticated “structures” that articulate and convey the essence of nature’s existence. Moreover, every human, every living creature, be it animal or plant, possesses a subjective “biological” interiority. The inner realm of each living subject, along with the objects in the external world, are enveloped within an atmosphere—a musical Umwelt. Humans exist within this musical milieu or atmosphere.

An Unexpected Descendant of Benjamin Hobson’s Chinese Treatise on Natural Philosophy: The Bowu Xinbian Tushuo (‘Illustrated Account of Natural Philosophy’, 1898)

Abstract The English medical missionary Benjamin Hobson (1816-1873) published one of his well known Chinese books, the Bowu Xinbian (‘Natural Philosophy’), in Canton in 1854. Over forty years later, Chen Xiutang produced a lesser known book in Shanghai, the Bowu Xinbian Tushuo (‘Illustrated Account of Natural Philosophy’, 1898). Both books contributed to the circulation of Western natural knowledge in Chinese society. Yet their relationship and the content of Chen’s book have never been explored. A comparative analysis of the two books reveals that the third part of Hobson’s book, authored by both Hobson and Chen, provided the basis of Chen’s own book. The removal of Chen’s name from the second edition of Hobson's book probably served as a major cause behind the publication of Chen’s book.

Pendidikan Islam Transformatif (Menggali Karakteristik Manajemen Perubahan Yang Efektif)

This research aims to determine the characteristics of transformative Islamic education change management. This research is important because the world of Islamic education is faced with globalization, which demands improvements in the management of Islamic education with character. Four main problems were found: (1) what is meant by change management, (2) what is the difference between general and Islamic change management, (3) what are the characteristics of change management in Islamic education, (4) what are examples of its application in facing the global era. Through a qualitative descriptive approach in the form of a literature review, namely by collecting data such as books and journals and analyzing it using content analysis, the research produced findings that the process of creating a sustainable learning culture in organizations is to increase the ability to adapt to change. The difference between general change management and change management in Islamic educational institutions lies in the basis used. General change management is based on the philosophy of naturalism, while Islamic education change management is based on the Koran and the Sunnah of the Prophet. The character is also different, the management of Islamic education is more towards anthropocentric theory. An example of its application is by applying these characters to Islamic education management practices to become transformative Islamic education.

'Like nets or cobwebs': Kenelm Digby, Isaac Newton and the problem of rarefaction.

This article aims to bring out the problematic nature of condensation and rarefaction for early modern natural philosophers by considering two historically significant attempts to deal with it, first by Sir Kenelm Digby in his Treatise on Body (1644), and subsequently by Isaac Newton, chiefly in manuscript works associated with the Principia (1687). It is argued that Digby tried to sidestep the problem of variation in density and rarity by making it a fundamental starting point for his physics. But he also brought out the difficulties of dealing with condensation and rarefaction within the mechanical philosophy, whether that philosophy was plenist or allowed for void space. The problems became exacerbated after experiments with the air-pump achieved extreme rarefactions. It is argued that these led Newton to first consider a retiform or net-like structure of matter, before adopting the radical innovation of supposing repelling forces operating at a distance between the particles of the rarefied bodies. Eventually, Newton came to believe that extreme rarity was inexplicable 'by any other means than a repulsive Power'.

Merchants of Light and Lamps: John Evelyn’s Transition from Descriptive to Experimental Natural History

Abstract This paper discusses the methodological relation between natural history and natural philosophy in the case of John Evelyn (1620–1706). I propose to examine Evelyn’s tree cultivation projects and to identify relevant aspects of his attempt to move from descriptive natural history to experimental natural history. My central argument is that Evelyn’s intention in this endeavour was to develop a series of experimental natural history projects that could provide general laws and axioms of nature as foundations for natural philosophy. I suggest that, considering Bacon’s methodological recommendations regarding the relation between natural history and natural philosophy, Evelyn evolved from one “Baconian” role to another. While in the 1650s Evelyn acted as a “merchant of light,” as he devoted his interest to writing natural history projects based on collecting data and commonplacing different sources, in the 1660s he moved to an advanced role, that of a “compiler” or a “lamp,” in which he composed projects of experimental natural history. In Evelyn’s view, the latter kind of natural history would serve as a methodological step in building a natural philosophy.

Physics and medicine from antiquity to the medieval period

Abstract Medical physics is commonly held to have begun at the end of the nineteenth century following discoveries about radiation and radioactivity that were to transform medical diagnosis and the treatment of cancer. A wider perspective dates the origin of the relationship between physics and medicine to the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century when physics began to be applied to understanding the workings of the body and to the development of medical technology. This paper argues that the relationship is in fact much older, dating back several millennia. At the heart of ancient Greek φυσική (natural philosophy) was an attempt to understand the nature and composition of the Universe and a belief which remains valid today that the human body functions on the same principles as the Universe as a whole. This approach led to a corpus of medical teachings rooted in physics as it was then understood that remained dominant in Europe and the Islamic world until the sixteenth century. Furthermore, ancient and medieval sources provide evidence of physical principles being used in medical diagnosis, in treatment and as a means of understanding the functioning of the body in a range of ancient cultures including Greece, Egypt and Persia. This mirrors the different ways in which physics continues to contribute to medical science and clinical practice today. Examples described in this paper include the first technique to map body temperature (arguably also the first medical imaging technique), the use of fire and heat in surgery and other forms of treatment, and medieval attempts to understand vision and the physics of the eye.

Introduction: Emancipation from Metaphysics? Natural History, Natural Philosophy and the Study of Nature from the Late Renaissance to the Enlightenment

Introduction: Emancipation from Metaphysics? Natural History, Natural Philosophy and the Study of Nature from the Late Renaissance to the Enlightenment

Robert Grosseteste (c. 1168-1253), the Oxford years

Abstract Robert Grosseteste spent numerous years in his early career at the University of Oxford where he was probably its first Chancellor. During this time he largely concentrated his academic activities on natural philosophy. This paper will examine his scientific activities as well as some key works in order to discuss his place in the history of science.

Medieval physics at Oxford: who, what and why?

Abstract The University of Oxford was an important centre for natural philosophy including physics in particular during the Middle Ages. Among several important figures, the so-called Merton Calculators hold pride of place for their work integrating mathematics into physics. Their advances were influential across western Europe and formed part of Galileo Galilei’s new science of kinematics in the seventeenth century. The surviving syllabi show that Oxford students were expected to cover Aristotle’s natural philosophy in some detail, as well as the four branches of mathematics: arithmetic, music, geometry and astronomy.

Friars, physicists, and natural philosophers in medieval Oxford

Abstract This paper examines how medieval Europe became the birthplace of many technical devices, including the mechanical clock, the geared windmill, and other automatic and labour-saving inventions. It also examines how the mathematical sciences were cultivated in 14th-century Oxford with studies of the mathematics of accelerating bodies, number theory and related problems.