Re[3]: My view of science and science teaching

["Steven T. Ratliff" <str@nwc.edu>]

On June 12, Leigh Palmer wrote:
[.........]

> I tell the following story for which, alas, I can give no primary
> reference citation, but it has always appealed to me. Newton gives, 
> in his *Principia* (which I have read neither in its original Latin 
> nor in translation), a set of Rules for Reasoning in Natural 
> Philosophy. Among these rules is what has come to be called the Law 
> of parsimony. Again, from very faulty memory, this law goes 
> something like "Nature does not that by many [mechanisms] which may 
> be done by few."

Just to amplify a bit on this, and to add some additional 
information:

I have Motte's translation of Newton's Principia 
(Berkeley: University of California Press, 1934).  

On pp. 398-9 there is a section, "Rules of Reasoning in Philosophy."  
Four rules are listed.  I will list all of the rules, and the full 
text for Rule I, which seems to be the "law of 
parsimony."

Rule I:  We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such 
as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.

To this purpose the philosophers say that Nature does nothing in 
vain, and more is in vain when less will serve; for Nature is pleased 
with simplicity, and affects not the pomp of superfluous causes.

Rule II:  Therefore to the same natureal effects we must, as far as 
possible, assign the same causes.

Rule III:  The qualities of bodies, which admit neither 
intensification nor remission of degrees, and which are found to 
belong to all bodies within the reach of our experiments, are to be 
esteemed the universal qualities of all bodies whatsoever.

Rule IV:  In experimental philosophy we are to look upon propositions 
inferred by general induction from phenomena as accurately or very 
nearly true, notwithstanding any contrary hypotheses that may be 
imagined, till such time as other phenomena occur, by which they may 
either be made more accurate, or liable to exceptions.

Sincerely,
Steven Ratliff




Steven T. Ratliff
Associate Professor of Physics
Northwestern College
3003 Snelling Av. N.
Saint Paul, MN  55113-1598

Internet:  stratliff@nwc.edu (or str@nwc.edu)