Descartes' Role in Classical Mechanics

Descartes and Classical Mechanics

Characteristics of Classical Mechanics

From Galileo to Newton, a new scientific paradigm, known as classical mechanics, was imposed. The characteristics of classical mechanics are:

• Mechanism: The world must be explained in purely mechanical terms.
• Determinism: There is no freedom or chance; changes happen as strict causal relationships.
• Reductionism: Qualitative aspects are reduced to quantitative ones. Cause-effect relationships are governed by physical-mathematical laws.

The Cartesian Foundation of the New Science

Descartes is one of the promoters of classical mechanics. He also provided a philosophical foundation for the new science. Something is true if it follows the rules of operation of self-understanding. When handling quantitative understanding, it makes use of mathematics. The conclusion is that when we use mathematical language, the findings are indisputable, and when done correctly, it describes reality.

Extension, Shape, and Movement

Only what is extensive can be described in mathematical language: figures and movements. We reach a conclusion about external reality: what is objective is extensive.

Body and Soul

The Nature of the Body

The body possesses the capacity for sensitive knowledge, which, according to Descartes, is a confused form of knowledge. Things impress upon the sense organs. This impression produces certain changes in the external senses, which would cause changes in a body part called "common sense." Common sense conveys changes in its status to another part called "imagination." In the brain, where the imagination and common sense are located, movements originate animal spirits that cause the movements of the muscles.

The Nature of the Soul

The human mind has a soul, capable of thinking in mathematical terms, rational, and possessing free will. The ability to think resides in the soul. Body and soul are two completely different realities in nature. Descartes redefines substance as that which does not need anything else to exist. From the interaction of body and soul comes the ability to feel, imagine, and conceive.