Original scientific paper
The scientific-philosophical aspects of Boscovich’s work and its influence to the development of classical and modern physics
Dragan Poljak
orcid.org/0000-0003-1205-4842
; Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, Croatia
Franjo Sokolić
; Faculty of Science, University of Split, Croatia
Mirko Jakić
; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Split, Croatia
Abstract
The paper deals with Boscovich’s influence to the development of science. Roger Boscovich, one of maybe last scholars in the history who did not separate science from philosophy, developed his theory of natural philosophy on the base of continuity principle by using geometrical methods. He proposed the point-like atomism and dynamism, but failed to provide enough rigorous mathematical background. His fundamental scientific contributions are related to the initiation of paradigm shift which through the refutation of actio in distans (action at a distance) concept directly provides both the development of the field concept as a real physical entity, and the idea of explaining the nature via one universal law.
Keywords
universal force law; point-like atomism; dynamism; field concept; electromagnetism; modern physics
Hrčak ID:
78748
URI
Publication date:
30.1.2012.
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