Styles of Mathematization: The Case of 18th Century Electrostatics

This book studies the mathematization of physics, with a special emphasis on 18th century electrostatics as a case study.

This book studies the mathematization of physics, with a special emphasis on 18th century electrostatics as a case study. The mathematization of a scientific field is a fruitful yet underdeveloped topic that can be seen through different lenses. A noticeable one is the Inferential Conception proposed by Mark Colyvan and Otávio Bueno. In this regard, the use of mathematics is understood as a set of mappings relating the physical realm and the mathematical realm. However, the historical process related to the use of mathematics remains unsolved; philosophical frameworks usually have a hard time dealing with historical dimensionality. Therefore, this book provides a study of the historical process of mathematization going beyond the framework in order to explain the use of mathematics a-historically, using the aforementioned investigation of 18th century electrostatics. The research developed gravitates around two centers; the history of physics and the philosophy of science, making the book of equal importance to both historians and philosophers of science.