19世紀末の原子論論争と力学的自然観 : 旧説の再検討をかねて(2)
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概要
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There have generally been two interpretations as to the late nineteenth century atomic debates. One of them claims that these battles was fought over such philosophical issues as whether an atom really existed independent of our consciousness. The other insists that such sheer controversies were caused by the discrepancies in methodology between so-called energeticists and atomists. Detailed analysis shows, however, that both interpretations mentioned above have failed to understand what was the most fundamental difference between them, the difference being, in my own interpretation, the attitude toward the mechanical view of nature; Ostwald advanced energeticism as a substitute for the mechanical view of nature, and Planck's emphasis on phenomenological way of investigation over atomistic one had also the implication of criticism of such view. On the other hand, Boltzmann firmly believed in the validity of the mechanical view of nature, though he recognized some advantages of a phenomenological theory. It was through the discovery and acceptance of the energy conservation law that really came into existence the mechanical view of nature in a narrower sense which was different from those in seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Furthermore, attitudes of scientists involved in these disputes toward the mechanical view of nature corresponded to the way of comprehending the energy conservation law; Atomists tended to regard it as a mere generalization of the law of mechanical energy, while anti- or non-atomists considered it as an empirical law, the validity of which didn't depend upon any specific view of nature.
- 日本科学史学会の論文
- 1977-12-31