On Tue, Oct 28, 2014 Peter Sas <[email protected]> wrote: > Kant constructs the concept of matter using only the concepts of > attractive and repulsive forces
A magnetic field neither attracts nor repels an electron, instead it applied a force that is always at right angles to the electron's direction of motion. Oh well, at lest Kant came up with a theory that had the capacity to be proven wrong, which is more than I can say about most philosophers. John K Clark Recently I read Kant's Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science (1786) > where he tries to base the basic concepts of physics on the transcendental > categories and principles laid down in his Critique of Pure Reason. One of > the most interesting parts, I found, was the second chapter on 'dynamics' > where Kant constructs the concept of matter using only the concepts of > attractive and repulsive forces (presupposing space and time as the forms > of sensory perception). Basically, the impenetrability of matter is > explained by a repulsive force inherent in matter, which needs to be > complemented by an attractive force, since otherwise matter would scatter > infinitely throughout space. > > Now what caught my attention was Kant's claim that all forces (in modern > terms: interactions) of nature must ultimately be understood as forms of > attraction and repulsion. His argument is very simple: in space, when one > object exerts a force on another, this can ony result either in the objects > moving away from each other (so that the force must be repulsive) or in the > objects moving towards each other (so that the force must be attractive). > > Here is what he writes: > > "These [repulsion and attraction] are the only two moving forces that can > be thought. In the context of questions about one portion of matter > impressing some motion on another, the two portions must be regarded as > points; so any transaction of that kind must be regarded as happening > between two points on a single straight line. Now, there are only two ways > for two points to move relative to one another on a single straight line: > either they approach one another, caused to do so by an attractive force; > or they recede from one another, caused to do so by a repelling force. > Consequently, these two kinds of forces are the only ones we can make sense > of; and all the forces of motion in material Nature must come down to > them." (Chapter 2, Explanation 2 to Proposition 1) > > I thought this was a real eye opener. Nowadays, of course, we know much > more about the basic interactions than in Kant's time. So I started > wondering: First, is it true that all the basic interactions are forms of > attraction and/or repulsion? And if so, then could it perhaps be possible > that all the interactions can ultimately be unified in one most elementary > form of attraction and repulsion? Isn't is the case that when we get closer > to the singularity the interactions become one? But what then are they > unified into? > > Gravity is clear attractive, though I gather that in inflation gravity can > also be repulsive. > In electromagnetism repulsion and attraction too play an important role, > though I am not sure if this also holds for the weak nuclear force to which > the electromagnetic force appears to be related. > In the strong nuclear force attraction too plays a crucial role. > > So how do you think about Kant's suggestion in the light of present day > physics? Is there a chance that all the fundamental interactions are > different manifestations of one single polarity of attraction and > repulsion? > > > > > In short: matter is defined as filling space and as impenetrable for other > pieces of matter. According to Kant, this concept of matter can be fully > contstructed > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Everything List" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
