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Papers by Felipe Ochoa R.

Research paper thumbnail of (Ph.D Thesis) Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Providential Theology: An inquiry into the ontological problem of the causation of gravity force in Newton’s physics.

Newton's development of an ontology of force, along with a mathematical treatment of natural phen... more Newton's development of an ontology of force, along with a mathematical treatment of natural phenomena, had vexed both historians and philosophers of science for decades. In dealing with such a dilemma, philosophers of science and Whig historians more often than not adopt a positivist stance which stresses Newton's agnosticism towards the causation of force, and highlight some sort of positivism in his natural philosophy, thus downplaying his ontological commitments to the conundrum of causation of force. On the other hand, contextualist historians tackle that puzzle by making use whether of Newton's alchemical studies or his metaphysics of nature founded upon a voluntaristic theology, in order to assert Newton's involvement in harmonizing his mathematical physics and natural philosophy within the framework of British natural philosophy. Notwithstanding this, Newton's philosophy of mathematics, and especially his ontology of mathematical entities, remains outside the sphere of interests for both historians and philosophers of science. The aim of this thesis is to rehearse an approach to the problem of Newton's ontology of force by analyzing his ontology of mathematical entities, as deployed in the Principia, within the framework of Newton's voluntarist theology. The purpose is that of showing that within Newton's own mathematical practice we are not required to mingle levels of his epistemological discourse with his ontological assumptions as it happens in the above-mentioned approaches. By means of this analysis, it is expected, additionally, to advance our understanding of Newton's acceptance of action at a distance based upon his notion of gravity force as a superadded quality.

Research paper thumbnail of De la subordinación a la hegemonía. Sobre la legitimación epistemológica de las matemáticas en lafilosofía natural en el siglo XVII. / From subordination to hegemony: On the epistemological legitimation of mathematics in natural philosophy of XVII century (Spanish).

Civilizar. Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, 2013

This article analyzes the epistemological legitimation of mathematics in natural philosophy in th... more This article analyzes the epistemological legitimation of mathematics in natural philosophy in the seventeenth century. In the Renaissance it was claimed that mathematics does not meet the Aristotelian criteria of scientificity, and that it did not explain the efficient and final causes. So, its critics, inspired by the Aristotelian tradition, rejected the first attempts to mathematize natural philosophy. The epistemological conditions involved in the debate are examined on the scientific nature of mathematics and its relevance to natural philosophy. A historiographical tour of the mathematization of nature is made to provide new weighing elements with respect to a historically and philosophically more conceptual characterization of the emergence of modern science.

Research paper thumbnail of Nuevas tendencias de la historiografía Newtoniana. / New trends in Newtonian historiography (Spanish).

Estudios de Filosofía, 2007

This is the presentation of a special issue of the journal Estudios de Filosofía Nº 35. The paper... more This is the presentation of a special issue of the journal Estudios de Filosofía Nº 35. The paper reviews the main current trends in Newton's historiography. It was written on the occasion 300th anniversary of the publication of Newton's translation of the Opticks in 1706 under the name Optice, translated by Newton's colleague Samuel Clarke. These are the opening remarks: "Commonly the name of "Newton Industry" is given to the set of investigations on the work of the wise Englishman for the various fields that constitute his studies in natural philosophy, which range from theology to scientific methodology and mathematics, passing by alchemical hermeneutics, biblical exegesis, and the chronology of ancient kingdoms. As such, this industry has been developing from various parts of our geography without being restricted, as one might think, to the Anglo-Saxon world. On the contrary, from Italy to Canada, from the United Kingdom to Australia, through France, Spain, and the United States, the Newton Industry is perhaps the most active field of research that has been carried out on any of the figures that gave rise to and structure to the process that led to the consolidation of modern science: the Scientific Revolution. This is due not only to the fact that his figure is the most representative of this feat, and therefore an obligatory part of the study when trying to understand Modernity structurally and the conditions of emergence and consolidation of what today we call science but also because it constitutes one of the most complexes of this process."

Research paper thumbnail of Newton y el Dios el Dominio. teología voluntarista ilustrada en los conceptos espacio absoluto, tiempo absoluto y gravitación universal. / Newton and the God of Dominion. Voluntarist Theology illustrated in the concepts of Absolute Space, Absolute time and Universal Gravitation (Spanish).

Estudios de Filosofía, 2004

This paper proposes Voluntarist Theology as an articulator key in order to understand Newton’s sc... more This paper proposes Voluntarist Theology as an articulator key in order to understand Newton’s scientific and non–scientific work. To avoid the isolation and incongruousness in Newton’s work, this Theology makes possible a integral reading of it that is harmonious. At the same time, Voluntarist Theology carefully considers the specificity of each and every single area that Newton studied such as Physics, Mathematics, prisca sapientia, Alchemy and Theology. Newton’s Voluntarist Theology is illustrated in the concepts of Absolute Space Absolute time and Universal Gravitation.

Research paper thumbnail of Newton Heteróclito. Problemas y límites del historiar a Sir Isaac Newton. / Newton Heterodite. Problems and boundaries of writing the history of Sir Isaac Newton (Spanish).

Estudios de Filosofía, 2001

Since the second half of 20th century, Newtonian scholarship has shown that besides Newtonian int... more Since the second half of 20th century, Newtonian scholarship has shown that besides Newtonian interest in physics he also focused his mind in areas such chronology, biblical exegesis and alchemy. Being these fields labeled as "scientific" and "non-scientific" ones, historians h ad reconstructed Newton s work either holistically or unilateral/y. The main task of the paper is to show the unsuitable facts of the above-mentioned ways. In addition, this paper harvests the partial results of a wider study currently being developed by the author about physics and metaphysics in Newton s thought.

Research paper thumbnail of Isaac Newton. Una mirada al absolutismo. / Isaac Newton. A look at the absolutes space and time (Spanish).

Revista Colombiana de Filosofía de la Ciencia, 2000

(Excerpt) In the Scholium to the Definitions of the Principia, Newton concentrates on abolishing ... more (Excerpt) In the Scholium to the Definitions of the Principia, Newton concentrates on abolishing some prejudices that commonly arise from considering space, time and movement with respect to mobile reference systems, and therefore contingent. This is in contrast to Descartes who defines movement as “the action by which a body passes from one place to another”. Such a relational notion is considered by Newton as vulgar and not true. It is therefore suitable, in his opinion, to carry out the destruction of these prejudices by making a distinction both of space, time and motion between absolute and relative, true and apparent, and mathematical and vulgar. In such a way, he then defines absolute and relative time, space and motion, in the following terms…

Talks by Felipe Ochoa R.

Research paper thumbnail of Geometría y naturaleza en el Prefacio de los "Principia" de Newton. / Geometry and nature in the Preface to Newton's "Principia" (Spanish).

(Extracto) Muy a menudo, los estudios sobre Newton se caracterizan por una tendencia a interpreta... more (Extracto) Muy a menudo, los estudios sobre Newton se caracterizan por una tendencia a interpretar sus matemáticas como una disciplina tan estrictamente definida con respecto a sus demás investigaciones, que parece que no fuera necesario relacionarlas con los intereses más amplios de Newton mismo en teología y filosofía experimental para tratar los problemas filosófico-naturales que los Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica (1687), suscitaron. Incluso, entre los especialistas que han tratado de demostrar la unidad de la filosofía natural de Newton, la teología, y otros aspectos de su pensamiento, las matemáticas han sido excluidas de sus preocupaciones, como si se reconociera que estas no pueden ser integradas de la misma forma. A mi modo de ver, tal actitud ha tenido consecuencias perjudiciales para la interpretación adecuada de la causalidad de la gravedad en la filosofía natural de Newton en general, y en los Principia en particular.

Research paper thumbnail of (Ph.D Thesis) Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Providential Theology: An inquiry into the ontological problem of the causation of gravity force in Newton’s physics.

Newton's development of an ontology of force, along with a mathematical treatment of natural phen... more Newton's development of an ontology of force, along with a mathematical treatment of natural phenomena, had vexed both historians and philosophers of science for decades. In dealing with such a dilemma, philosophers of science and Whig historians more often than not adopt a positivist stance which stresses Newton's agnosticism towards the causation of force, and highlight some sort of positivism in his natural philosophy, thus downplaying his ontological commitments to the conundrum of causation of force. On the other hand, contextualist historians tackle that puzzle by making use whether of Newton's alchemical studies or his metaphysics of nature founded upon a voluntaristic theology, in order to assert Newton's involvement in harmonizing his mathematical physics and natural philosophy within the framework of British natural philosophy. Notwithstanding this, Newton's philosophy of mathematics, and especially his ontology of mathematical entities, remains outside the sphere of interests for both historians and philosophers of science. The aim of this thesis is to rehearse an approach to the problem of Newton's ontology of force by analyzing his ontology of mathematical entities, as deployed in the Principia, within the framework of Newton's voluntarist theology. The purpose is that of showing that within Newton's own mathematical practice we are not required to mingle levels of his epistemological discourse with his ontological assumptions as it happens in the above-mentioned approaches. By means of this analysis, it is expected, additionally, to advance our understanding of Newton's acceptance of action at a distance based upon his notion of gravity force as a superadded quality.

Research paper thumbnail of De la subordinación a la hegemonía. Sobre la legitimación epistemológica de las matemáticas en lafilosofía natural en el siglo XVII. / From subordination to hegemony: On the epistemological legitimation of mathematics in natural philosophy of XVII century (Spanish).

Civilizar. Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, 2013

This article analyzes the epistemological legitimation of mathematics in natural philosophy in th... more This article analyzes the epistemological legitimation of mathematics in natural philosophy in the seventeenth century. In the Renaissance it was claimed that mathematics does not meet the Aristotelian criteria of scientificity, and that it did not explain the efficient and final causes. So, its critics, inspired by the Aristotelian tradition, rejected the first attempts to mathematize natural philosophy. The epistemological conditions involved in the debate are examined on the scientific nature of mathematics and its relevance to natural philosophy. A historiographical tour of the mathematization of nature is made to provide new weighing elements with respect to a historically and philosophically more conceptual characterization of the emergence of modern science.

Research paper thumbnail of Nuevas tendencias de la historiografía Newtoniana. / New trends in Newtonian historiography (Spanish).

Estudios de Filosofía, 2007

This is the presentation of a special issue of the journal Estudios de Filosofía Nº 35. The paper... more This is the presentation of a special issue of the journal Estudios de Filosofía Nº 35. The paper reviews the main current trends in Newton's historiography. It was written on the occasion 300th anniversary of the publication of Newton's translation of the Opticks in 1706 under the name Optice, translated by Newton's colleague Samuel Clarke. These are the opening remarks: "Commonly the name of "Newton Industry" is given to the set of investigations on the work of the wise Englishman for the various fields that constitute his studies in natural philosophy, which range from theology to scientific methodology and mathematics, passing by alchemical hermeneutics, biblical exegesis, and the chronology of ancient kingdoms. As such, this industry has been developing from various parts of our geography without being restricted, as one might think, to the Anglo-Saxon world. On the contrary, from Italy to Canada, from the United Kingdom to Australia, through France, Spain, and the United States, the Newton Industry is perhaps the most active field of research that has been carried out on any of the figures that gave rise to and structure to the process that led to the consolidation of modern science: the Scientific Revolution. This is due not only to the fact that his figure is the most representative of this feat, and therefore an obligatory part of the study when trying to understand Modernity structurally and the conditions of emergence and consolidation of what today we call science but also because it constitutes one of the most complexes of this process."

Research paper thumbnail of Newton y el Dios el Dominio. teología voluntarista ilustrada en los conceptos espacio absoluto, tiempo absoluto y gravitación universal. / Newton and the God of Dominion. Voluntarist Theology illustrated in the concepts of Absolute Space, Absolute time and Universal Gravitation (Spanish).

Estudios de Filosofía, 2004

This paper proposes Voluntarist Theology as an articulator key in order to understand Newton’s sc... more This paper proposes Voluntarist Theology as an articulator key in order to understand Newton’s scientific and non–scientific work. To avoid the isolation and incongruousness in Newton’s work, this Theology makes possible a integral reading of it that is harmonious. At the same time, Voluntarist Theology carefully considers the specificity of each and every single area that Newton studied such as Physics, Mathematics, prisca sapientia, Alchemy and Theology. Newton’s Voluntarist Theology is illustrated in the concepts of Absolute Space Absolute time and Universal Gravitation.

Research paper thumbnail of Newton Heteróclito. Problemas y límites del historiar a Sir Isaac Newton. / Newton Heterodite. Problems and boundaries of writing the history of Sir Isaac Newton (Spanish).

Estudios de Filosofía, 2001

Since the second half of 20th century, Newtonian scholarship has shown that besides Newtonian int... more Since the second half of 20th century, Newtonian scholarship has shown that besides Newtonian interest in physics he also focused his mind in areas such chronology, biblical exegesis and alchemy. Being these fields labeled as "scientific" and "non-scientific" ones, historians h ad reconstructed Newton s work either holistically or unilateral/y. The main task of the paper is to show the unsuitable facts of the above-mentioned ways. In addition, this paper harvests the partial results of a wider study currently being developed by the author about physics and metaphysics in Newton s thought.

Research paper thumbnail of Isaac Newton. Una mirada al absolutismo. / Isaac Newton. A look at the absolutes space and time (Spanish).

Revista Colombiana de Filosofía de la Ciencia, 2000

(Excerpt) In the Scholium to the Definitions of the Principia, Newton concentrates on abolishing ... more (Excerpt) In the Scholium to the Definitions of the Principia, Newton concentrates on abolishing some prejudices that commonly arise from considering space, time and movement with respect to mobile reference systems, and therefore contingent. This is in contrast to Descartes who defines movement as “the action by which a body passes from one place to another”. Such a relational notion is considered by Newton as vulgar and not true. It is therefore suitable, in his opinion, to carry out the destruction of these prejudices by making a distinction both of space, time and motion between absolute and relative, true and apparent, and mathematical and vulgar. In such a way, he then defines absolute and relative time, space and motion, in the following terms…

Research paper thumbnail of Geometría y naturaleza en el Prefacio de los "Principia" de Newton. / Geometry and nature in the Preface to Newton's "Principia" (Spanish).

(Extracto) Muy a menudo, los estudios sobre Newton se caracterizan por una tendencia a interpreta... more (Extracto) Muy a menudo, los estudios sobre Newton se caracterizan por una tendencia a interpretar sus matemáticas como una disciplina tan estrictamente definida con respecto a sus demás investigaciones, que parece que no fuera necesario relacionarlas con los intereses más amplios de Newton mismo en teología y filosofía experimental para tratar los problemas filosófico-naturales que los Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica (1687), suscitaron. Incluso, entre los especialistas que han tratado de demostrar la unidad de la filosofía natural de Newton, la teología, y otros aspectos de su pensamiento, las matemáticas han sido excluidas de sus preocupaciones, como si se reconociera que estas no pueden ser integradas de la misma forma. A mi modo de ver, tal actitud ha tenido consecuencias perjudiciales para la interpretación adecuada de la causalidad de la gravedad en la filosofía natural de Newton en general, y en los Principia en particular.