2004
Volume 113, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 0002-5275
  • E-ISSN: 2352-1244

Abstract

Abstract

Galileo’s law of fall is one of the crucial building blocks of classical mechanics. The question how this law was discovered has often been a topic of debate. This article offers a reconstruction of the developments within Galileo’s research that led to the discovery of the law. This reconstruction is offered to make a philosophical point regarding the epistemic status of experimental results: Galileo’s experiments can offer sufficient justification for the acceptance of the law of fall only because of their place in a broad research programme.

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2021-02-01
2024-11-09
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): discovery; Galileo Galilei; justification; law of fall
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