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Reflections on the Practice of Physics: James Clerk Maxwell’s Methodological Odyssey in Electromagne

Methodology: framing scientific knowledge An overview of Maxwell’s approach to methodology Maxwell’s initial publication of 1856 (an abstract)—placing methodology at the forefront Methodology as an essential feature of scientific practice: the case of Maxwell The argument Notes Maxwell’s choice: Faraday vs. Ampère Michael Faraday (1791–1867) and James Clerk Maxwell: a unique relation André-Marie Ampère (1775–1836): the contrast Notes Thomson, Stokes, Rankine, and Thomson and Tait Introduction: methodology in electromagnetism William Thomson (1824–1907): from analogy to representation George Stokes (1819–1903): idealization William J. M. Rankine (1820–1872): energy—a novel unifying concept W. Thomson and Peter Tait (1831–1901): abstract dynamics Conclusion Notes Station 1 (1856–1858): On Faraday’s lines of force A novel methodology: modifying the methodology of analogy The structure of Maxwell’s argument From the general to the specific Confronting Ampère’s theory Conclusion Appendix: a bibliographical note on Maxwell 1858 Notes Station 2 (1861–1862): On physical lines of force Introduction Preliminary: from instrumentalism to causality The methodology: linking hypothesis to representation Applying the methodology: assumptions and their consequences III: a landmark in the history of physics Conclusion Notes Station 3 (1865): A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field Introduction I: marking the goal—the construction of a formal theory consisting of a set of general equations II: the flywheel analogy How does the analogy work?Illustration vs. analogy The methodology of reversing the argument Intermediate summary A physical theory in symbolic language An example—the case of electric elasticity Conclusion Notes Station 4 (1873): A treatise on electricity and magnetism Introduction Framework Novel methodologies Energy as a key concept in electrodynamics Mathematical tools in the treatment of electrodynamics Dimensionality of units Analogies, illustrations, and working models as mechanical representations Mental imagery The impact of the new methodologies on the construction of the theory The electric displacement and the displacement current General equations of the electromagnetic From mathematics to physics: vortices and mechanism Conclusion Notes Philosophical reflections on Maxwell’s methodological odyssey Commitment Modifications of methodologies Station 1: analogy Station 2: hypothesis Station 3: textual description Station 4: abstract dynamics Transitions from one methodology to the next Methodologies in Maxwell’s practice The role of mathematics Reciprocity of formulation: translation Mental imagery Analogy Hypothesis: the micro-level and explanatory claims Model and modeling Concluding remarks Notes

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Michael Faraday (1791–1867) and James Clerk Maxwell: a unique relation
In 1881 Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) delivered the Faraday Lecture before the Fellows of the Chemical Society in London. Helmholtz, a renowned German physicist who made significant contributions to several quite different domains of modern science, limited his address to that aspect of Faraday’s...
(Reflections on the Practice of Physics: James Clerk Maxwell’s Methodological Odyssey in Electromagnetism)
Philosophical reflections on Maxwell’s methodological odyssey
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(Reflections on the Practice of Physics: James Clerk Maxwell’s Methodological Odyssey in Electromagnetism)
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