| Popis: |
This article examines the relationship between Newton’s philosophy and Spinoza’s. It begins by outlining the historical context in which Spinoza and Newton may have exerted mutual influence, considering in particular the Newtonian response to Spinoza and to Spinozistic doctrines like necessitarianism, monism, and scientific apriorism. It goes on to discuss some of the most interesting aspects of the relationships between Spinoza’s and Newton’s positions on natural-philosophical method, the status of final causes, and God’s relationship to creation. While Newton and Spinoza are fundamentally at odds concerning the role of induction in natural philosophy and the question of whether the investigation of nature reveals God’s designs, shared influences and a concern to emphasize creatures’ dependence on God bring Newton close to aspects of Spinozist ontology. |
