Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics

The paper deals with Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis’s (1698-1759) writings on the principle of least action (PLA). I discuss Maupertuis’s philosophical interpretation of the PLA by analysing three of his papers (1740, 1744, 1746), in order to assess the overall consistency of his argument. As I s...

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Main Author:	Marco Storni
Format:	Article
Language:	Spanish
Published:	University of Bologna 2019-02-01
Series:	Montesquieu.it
Subjects:	maupertuis principle of least action newton leibniz epistemology metaphysics
Online Access:	https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/view/9029

id	doaj-cf52f4bae2564888841d44e278e3d3d4
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spelling	doaj-cf52f4bae2564888841d44e278e3d3d42020-11-25T02:38:44ZspaUniversity of BolognaMontesquieu.it2421-41242019-02-0111110.6092/issn.2421-4124/90297846Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and MetaphysicsMarco Storni0Forschungszentrum Gotha der Universität ErfurtThe paper deals with Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis’s (1698-1759) writings on the principle of least action (PLA). I discuss Maupertuis’s philosophical interpretation of the PLA by analysing three of his papers (1740, 1744, 1746), in order to assess the overall consistency of his argument. As I shall argue, Maupertuis presents the PLA as a universal principle of nature, this being at odds with the empiricist inspiration of his epistemology. Maupertuis’s attempt to introduce conceptual elements borrowed from the Leibnizian tradition into a Newtonian-inspired framework creates in fact a tension that is difficult to overcome.https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/view/9029maupertuisprinciple of least actionnewtonleibnizepistemologymetaphysics
collection	DOAJ
language	Spanish
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Marco Storni
spellingShingle	Marco Storni Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics Montesquieu.it maupertuis principle of least action newton leibniz epistemology metaphysics
author_facet	Marco Storni
author_sort	Marco Storni
title	Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics
title_short	Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics
title_full	Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics
title_fullStr	Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics
title_full_unstemmed	Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics
title_sort	maupertuis’s principle of least action: epistemology and metaphysics
publisher	University of Bologna
series	Montesquieu.it
issn	2421-4124
publishDate	2019-02-01
description	The paper deals with Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis’s (1698-1759) writings on the principle of least action (PLA). I discuss Maupertuis’s philosophical interpretation of the PLA by analysing three of his papers (1740, 1744, 1746), in order to assess the overall consistency of his argument. As I shall argue, Maupertuis presents the PLA as a universal principle of nature, this being at odds with the empiricist inspiration of his epistemology. Maupertuis’s attempt to introduce conceptual elements borrowed from the Leibnizian tradition into a Newtonian-inspired framework creates in fact a tension that is difficult to overcome.
topic	maupertuis principle of least action newton leibniz epistemology metaphysics
url	https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/view/9029
work_keys_str_mv	AT marcostorni maupertuissprincipleofleastactionepistemologyandmetaphysics
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Maupertuis’s Principle of Least Action: Epistemology and Metaphysics

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