Motion and God in XVIIth-Century Cartesian Manuals: Rohault, Régis and Gadroys

Abstract

This work takes into account three Cartesian manuals diffused in 17th century France (Claude Gadroys, Le système du monde selon les trois hypothèses (Paris, Desprez 1675); Jacques Rohault, Traité de physique (Paris, 1671); Pierre-Sylvain Régis, Cours entier de philosophie, ou système general selon les principes de M. Descartes contenant la logique, la metaphysique, la physique et la morale (Amsterdam, 1691)) in order to question if the development of an empirical attitude in the scientific research influenced their approaches to the study of motion. The article intends to deepen the role that these authors give to God in the physical structure of the universe with the purpose of investigating whether their analysis of motion is untainted by the metaphysical component or on what terms it remains linked to it.