A Preliminary Inquiry from Newtonian Physics toward Metaphysics of Nature

通過牛頓的物理學定律對大自然形而上學的初步研究

呂代豪(David Tai-Hao Lu)

伊曼努爾, 康德 ； 牛頓物理學 ； 自然的形而上學 ； lmmanuel Kant ； Newtonian Physics ； Metaphysics of Nature

哲學與文化

40卷2期（2013 / 02 / 01）

123 - 142

英文

在客觀世界普遍的自然規律處處可見，在眾多的自然規律中人類發現一定的大自然規律，通過牛頓的物理學可以驗證。本文章的靈感來自於牛頓物理學的顯著體系描述，同時將介紹康德的哲學思想，並論述康德希望該體系描述的適用範圍擴大到整個宇宙領域。此外也敘述康德對宇宙的結構和演化發展的詳細闡述，並根據傳統的形而上學和萊布尼茨的哲學背景，再探討康德希望超越原有的研究領域並更深層次的研究形而上學的理論基礎。雖然這門科學的研究只處於初步的發展階段，康德仍認為牛頓物理學應在整個自然系統都普遍適用，但是這項系統研究本身也需要解釋。也就是說，這樣的研究也需要通過所有自然事件之間的相互聯繫和調和提供一個平台，才可最終被確立。本文首先將介紹康德採用牛頓物理學作為宇宙的形成和發展緣起，然後走進康德的物質世界中的外在決定論，最後進入對自然形而上學的探究。

The external world is a real world and regularities of natural events are found everywhere. Among them certain universal laws of nature are discovered. This is especially evidenced by Newtonian physics. Inspired by such a remarkable model of Newtonian physics, this article will introduce the ideology of Kant, who wished to extend the applicability of that model to the entire realm of the universe. In addition to this comprehensive exposition of the structure and evolutionary development of the universe, with the discipline of traditional metaphysics and the Leibnizian philosophy background, Kant further wishes to go beyond this plane and inquire further into its metaphysical foundation. He thought that Newtonian physics should be universally valid in the entire Natural system though this science is only at its preliminary stage of development. But the whole system itself needs explanation. That is to say, it needs a ground by which all natural occurrences in their interconnectedness and harmony can be ultimately established. This article will first bring about Kant's adaptation of Newtonian physics as a model for the formation and development of the universe, then step into Kant's theory of the external determination of the material world, and finally, touches on the metaphysics of nature.

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