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Whewell on Necessity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

Harold T. Walsh
Harold T. Walsh*
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
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Abstract

It is generally not recognized that Whewell's conception of necessary truth evolved only gradually; his early statements are misleading. For this reason, and because of certain peculiarities in his expository style over his publishing history, he is commonly thought to have used the term “necessary” in the sense of “absolutely necessary”. I argue that, on the contrary, the term is essentially relational in his mature view. This conclusion leads, in turn, to a re-interpretation of his doctrine of “fundamental ideas”. Here I argue that the crux of his position is that cognitive principles which are initially regulative become, through invention, repeated employment, and stipulative definition, constitutive ones.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , April 1962 , pp. 139 - 145
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1962

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References

References for Whewell's Theory of Science

Astronomy and General Physics Considered with Reference to Natural Theology; the so-called Bridgewater Treatise (London: Pickering, 1833). (BT.)Google Scholar
Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences (London: Parker, 1837). References are to the more-readily available second edition (London: Parker, 1847), as indicated by the arabic numeral 2; the roman numeral indicates the volume. (PIS.)Google Scholar
The History of Scientific Ideas (London: Parker, 1858). (HSI.)Google Scholar
Novum Organon Renovatum (London: Parker, 1858). (NOR.)Google Scholar
Philosophy of Discovery (London: Parker, 1860). (PD.)Google Scholar
The above are all by Whewell. I have also made reference to a secondary source: Todhunter, I.: William Whewell, D. D. (London: Macmillan, 1876). (T.)Google Scholar