The scientific work of Rene Descartes (1596-1650) / J.F. Scott.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Scott, J. F. (Joseph Frederick), author.

Series:

Routledge Library Editions: René Descartes ; Volume 3

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Descartes, René, 1596-1650.

Descartes, René.

Science--History.

Science.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (226 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge, 2017.

Summary:

When originally published in 1952, this book filled a gap in the history of philosophy and science and remains an important work today, because it puts the main mathematical and physical discoveries of Descartes in an accessible form, for the benefit of English readers. Descartes is acknowledged to be the founder of modern mathematics, through his invention of analytical geometry and this volume charts Descartes' role in bringing a unity into algebra and geometry and the development of mathematics into a discipline which could be properly analysed. Carefully paraphrasing the Géométrie, this volume retains much of Descartes' original notation as well as the original diagrams. The volume also discusses the considerable contribution that Descartes made to the physical sciences which involved accurate work in optics, light, sight and colour.

Contents:

ch. 1. Early life and training

ch. 2. Brief survey of Descartes' scientific work

ch. 3. The Discours de La Methode

ch. 4. La Dioptrique

ch. 5. Les Meteores

ch. 6. Introduction to La Geometrie

ch. 7. La Geometrie: Book I, Problems which can be constructed by means of circles and straight lines only

ch. 8. La Geometrie: Book II, On the nature of curves

ch. 9. La Geometrie: Book III, The construction of solid and super-solid problems

ch. 10. The Principia philosophi: I, The principles of human knowlege ; II, The principles of material things

ch. 11. The Principia philosophi: III, Of the visible world

ch. 12. The Principia philosophi: IV, The earth

ch. 13. Conclusion. Importance of Descartes' work in the history of science.

Notes:

First published 1952 by Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-315-51133-9

1-315-51131-2

1-315-51132-0

9781315511337

OCLC:

988387568