3. Huygens is said to present a version of the 'hypothetico-deductive model' of building and understanding nature. What are the elements of such a model, and how does it differ from other possible strategies?
Huygens, like many of the scientists and philosophers of the scientific revolution, structured his method for reaching discoveries around a ‘hypothetico-deductive model’. This model is effectively a precursor to the scientific method, in which a particular, falsifiable hypothesis is made (hypothetico), which can be experimented on and observed to reach a particular conclusion (deductive). Huygen applies this method to discoveries regarding light, where he makes “inquiries” and “speculation[s]” in order to tests his hypotheses and “forsee new phenomena.” This approach would be relatively novel for its time, and contrasts with other prevailing methods used in other disciplines. In particular, Huygens describes how this method diverges from how areas of thought like geometry are treated. He states that “Geometers prove their Propositions by fixed and incontestable Principles” where in his method “Principles are verified by the conclusions to be drawn from them.” Instead of focusing on a set of established axioms and working forwards like in the Cartesian model, this method starts with a certain unknown that is to be tested and verified.
No comments:
Post a Comment