Ideas for a Philosophy of NatureThis is an English translation of Schelling's Ideas for a Philosophy of Nature (first published in 1797 and revised in 1803), one of the most significant works in the German tradition of philosophy of nature and early nineteenth-century philosophy of science. It stands in opposition to the Newtonian picture of matter as constituted by inert, impenetrable particles, and argues instead for matter as an equilibrium of active forces that engage in dynamic polar opposition to one another. In the revisions of 1803 Schelling incorporated this dialectical view into a neo-Platonic conception of an original unity divided upon itself. The text is of more than simply historical interest: its daring and original vision of nature, philosophy, and empirical science will prove absorbing reading for all philosophers concerned with post-Kantian German idealism, for scholars of German Romanticism, and for historians of science. |
Contents
Chapter 1 Of the Combustion of Bodies | 59 |
A New View of the Combustion Process | 65 |
Of Light | 68 |
Concerning the Theory of Light in the Philosophy of Nature | 83 |
Of the Air and the Kinds of Air | 87 |
Some Remarks on the History of the Decomposition of Water | 93 |
Of Electricity | 96 |
On the Construction of Electricity in the Philosophy of Nature | 114 |
Human Mind | 171 |
The Construction of Matter | 179 |
Chapter 5 Basic Principles of Dynamics | 182 |
Notes on the Foregoing Idealist Construction of Matter | 191 |
of MatterGradual Transition into the Domain of Mere Experience | 193 |
Of the FormDeterminations and Specific Difference of Matter | 202 |
Chapter 7 Philosophy of Chemistry in General | 206 |
Is Chemistry as a Science Possible? | 218 |
Of the Magnet | 122 |
The Doctrine of the Philosophy of Nature on Magnetism | 128 |
General Considerations as Results of the Foregoing | 130 |
Universal Features of the Dynamic Process | 136 |
Book II | 141 |
General as Principles of a System of Nature | 143 |
General View of the System of the World | 150 |
Chapter 2 On the Fictitious Use of These Two Principles | 153 |
On the Concept of Forces in General and More Especially in Newtonianism | 158 |
Mechanical Physics of M le Sage | 161 |
General Remark on Atomism | 170 |
Chapter 8 Application of These Principles to Particular Topics of Chemistry | 221 |
Appendix to the Previous Section Literary Notices | 239 |
On the Substances in Chemistry | 250 |
Projected Outline of the First Principles of Chemistry | 252 |
Construction of the Chemical Process | 268 |
Concluding Note and Transition to the Following Part | 272 |
Checklist of Scientific Authors | 275 |
| 285 | |
| 287 | |
Common terms and phrases
activity actually aether affinity already appears arise assume attraction and repulsion attractive force basic forces basic material basic substances become calcination cause chemical affinity chemical motion chemical process chemistry combustion concept decomposition degree dissolution dynamical effect elasticity electrical matter equilibrium essence everything exists expansion experience explain external F. W. J. Schelling fact finite fluid force of attraction G. W. F. Hegel heat-stuff Hence hypothesis ideal ideas identity philosophy infinite insofar intuition Kant kinds of air laws Leibniz magnetic mass mechanical physics merely metals mind negative object occurs opposed opposite organic original oxygen particles particular phenomena phenomenon Philosophy of Nature phlogiston phlogiston theory possible potency present presuppose principle pure question reality relation relationship repulsive force rest Schelling Schelling's sensation sensible heat solid bodies space supposed theory thereby things three unities tion tricity unity universal vital air voltaic pile whole