Em busca do nada: considerações sobre os argumentos a favor do vácuo ou do éter

Trans/Form/Ação 16:07-27 (1993)
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Abstract

This paper discusses the possibility of an absolute vacuum - a space without any substance. The motivation of this study is the contrast between most philosophers, up to Descartes, who stated that a vacuum was impossible, and the 17th century change of outlook, when the possibility and effective existence of the vacuum was accepted after the experiments of Torricelli and Pascal. This article attempts to show that, contrary to the received opinion, the acceptance of an ether is preferable to the acceptance of a vacuum for several reasons. First: it is impossible to provide an empirical proof of the non-existence of the ether; second, an absolute vacuum is unthinkable; third, the ether concept is useful for the understanding of physical phaenomena; and fourth, the hypothesis of an ether in apparently void spaces is useful for the future development of science. The paper also endeavours to show that no recent advance of science changed those conclusions and that no future development can change them.

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Roberto De Andrade Martins
University of São Paulo

References found in this work

Aether/Or: The Creation of Scientific Concepts.Nancy J. Nersessian - 1984 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 15 (3):175.
Use and violation of operationalism in relativity.Roberto de Andrade Martins - 1981 - Manuscrito: Revista Internacional de Filosofía 5 (2):103-115.

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