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    The success of Newtonian mechanics thus empirically refut... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Mechanical natural philosophy held that all observable causal relationships could in principle be reduced to the motions and impacts of microscopic parts of bodies.

    The success of Newtonian mechanics thus empirically refuted the completeness of the contact-mechanics paradigm from within natural philosophy itself.

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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Newton's inverse-square law explained planetary motion without requiring mechanical contact between bodies, contradicting contact-mechanics assumptions.
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    • 2.The empirical success of gravitational theory (predictions, observations) demonstrated that non-contact action could be scientifically legitimate and explanatory.
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    • 3.Contact-mechanics couldn't account for observed phenomena like orbital mechanics without ad hoc modifications, showing internal insufficiency.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Newton himself resisted action-at-a-distance, suggesting his framework didn't intentionally refute contact-mechanics but sought compatible explanations.
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    • 2.Contact-mechanics advocates simply reinterpreted Newton's results as describing hidden mechanical processes, avoiding refutation by paradigm adjustment.
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    • 3.Empirical success of a theory doesn't definitively refute competing frameworks—it only shows one works better, leaving metaphysical questions unresolved.
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    Related

    Contact-mechanics advocates simply reinterpreted Newton's results as describing ...Contact-mechanics couldn't account for observed phenomena like orbital mechanics...Empirical success of a theory doesn't definitively refute competing frameworks—i...Mechanical natural philosophy held that all observable causal relationships coul...
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    Newton himself resisted action-at-a-distance, suggesting his framework didn't in...Newton's inverse-square law explained planetary motion without requiring mechani...The empirical success of gravitational theory (predictions, observations) demons...

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