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SUMMARY:The 'mechanical hypothesis' in Ancient Greek natural philosophy - 
 Sylvia Berryman (University of British Columbia)
DTSTART:20080515T153000Z
DTEND:20080515T170000Z
UID:TALK11568@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Lauren Kassell
DESCRIPTION:I argue that the impact of the mechanics of the Hellenistic pe
 riod on ancient natural philosophy has been underappreciated\, and that th
 e reasons for its rejection by the philosophical schools of late antiquity
  need to be re-examined. Traces of a 'mechanical hypothesis' can be found 
 in late antiquity\; attention to this helps us understand the role of the 
 discipline of mechanics in the history of natural philosophy. The reason f
 or the Neoplatonist rejection of the generality of mechanical theory stem 
 from some unsolved problems and counter evidence\, rather than a blanket r
 ejection of mechanics as mere art\, as marvellous\, or as working 'against
  nature'.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 2\, History and Philosophy of Science\, Department o
 f
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