近代物理科学形而上学基础的假定本质与公理表现——基于伯特的《近代物理科学的形而上学基础》

摘要

Modern physical science was based on the metaphysical foundations with four essential points--pragmatic presupposi tions for modern man to control nature. The assumed character of the first point was found soon while that of others had to be revealed by Newton axiomatically. The internal inconsistency of assumed character and axiomatic representation had a great im- pact on modern thought. Burtt, critical of positivism, paved a new way for the history of science and the philosophy of science, indicating the rise of historicism and the school of history of scientific thought.%伯特的《近代物理科学的形而上学基础》历史地考察、批判地分析了近代物理科学的形而上学基础。在伯特看来，近代物理科学的形而上学基础在根本上缺乏经验证明，也没有真正的逻辑自洽性，在根本上都是假定。源予近代人对自然控制和利用的需求，“自然和世界是数学的”观念居于中心地位。除了“上帝是一位宇宙机械师”的假定本质被揭示出来，其他要点烈经由牛顿，以“公理”的形式表现出来。伯特对近代物理科学形而上学基础的解析，启发了当时的柯瓦雷、库恩等在内的诸多著名科学哲学家和科学史家。