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  1.  46
    The experimental physics of Jacques Rohault.Aaron Spink - 2018 - British Journal for the History of Philosophy 26 (5):850-870.
    ABSTRACTJacques Rohault is often considered to be one of the most meticulous followers of Descartes. Despite this, Rohault’s natural philosophy lacks much of the metaphysical bulwark that typifies Cartesian treatises of the seventeenth century. Instead, Rohault’s work, as well as his popular weekly meetings, strongly emphasized rigorous observation and experimentation. Traditionally, this emphasis on experiment over metaphysics is seen as a pragmatic omission to avoid the perils associated with censorship and Cartesian metaphysics. However, I find that the lack of explicit (...)
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  2. Cartesian Anti-Astrology.Aaron Spink - 2020 - Lias 47 (2):175-194.
    Descartes and his early followers were widely seen to be enemies of superstition and the occult. This was particularly visible in the Cartesian movement’s antagonism to astrology. However, why Descartes and his early followers were so pitted against astrology is less than clear given the flexibility afforded to them through their system of philosophy and various mechanical explanations. Claude Gadroys (1642-1678), for example, produced a short treatise that provided a mechanical explanation consistent with Cartesian physics to allow for celestial influence (...)
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  3.  38
    Claude Gadroys and a Cartesian Astrology.Aaron Spink - 2018 - Journal of Early Modern Studies 7 (1):151-171.
    When Descartes made his scientific work public, he ushered in a worldview based almost entirely on mechanical motion, which brought along a complete rejection of “occult” forces. Thus, the foundation of astrology was equally rejected by many prominent Cartesians. However, the popularity of Descartes’ system lead to its rapid adoption by many subjects, astrology included. Here, I will take a look at the curious case of Claude Gadroys, whose primary work, Discours sur les influences des astres, defends a mechanical account (...)
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  4.  25
    Cartesian Method and Experiment.Aaron Spink - unknown
    The conception of René Descartes as the arch-rationalist has been sufficiently exploded in recent literature; however, there is still a large lacuna in our understanding of how empirical research and experimentation fits within his philosophy. My dissertation is directed at addressing just this problem. I contend that Descartes’ famed method is not a singular monolith but instead two interdependent methods: one directed at metaphysical and epistemological truth, while the other directed at empirical questions and contingent facts of the world. I (...)
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  5.  22
    Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science by Andrea Strazzoni. [REVIEW]Aaron Spink - 2023 - Journal of the History of Philosophy 61 (1):154-156.
    In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:Reviewed by:Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science by Andrea StrazzoniAaron SpinkAndrea Strazzoni. Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2019. Pp. ix + 245. Hardback, $124.99.Andrea Strazzoni's Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science is a clear step forward in our understanding of the rise and fall of Cartesianism. The work, limited to the Dutch context with one (...)
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  6.  29
    Tad M. Schmaltz. Early Modern Cartesianisms: Dutch and French Constructions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. Pp. 392. $90.00. [REVIEW]Aaron Spink - 2018 - Hopos: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science 8 (1):229-232.