From Scholastic Cosmos to Mechanical Philosophy

From Scholastic Cosmos to Mechanical Philosophy traces the monumental transformation of Western natural philosophy from the richly symbolic, purpose-driven universe of medieval scholasticism to the mathematically precise, mechanistic worldview that underpins modern science. Journey through centuries of intellectual evolution as the ancient Aristotelian cosmos—dominated by forms, final causes, and hierarchical order—encounters radical challenges and profound reinventions. Discover how visionary thinkers like Nicole Oresme, Pierre Gassendi, René Descartes, Robert Boyle, and Isaac Newton mathematized nature, replaced teleology with mechanism, and forged a new scientific paradigm. Blending rigorous historical scholarship with deep philosophical analysis, this book illuminates the complex interplay of ideas, experiments, and cultural shifts that ushered in the scientific revolution and shaped the Enlightenment. Essential reading for anyone fascinated by the origins of modern science, this work reveals the profound intellectual journey from a cosmos of meaning to a universe of laws—and the enduring legacy of that transformation on our understanding of nature and ourselves.