Riemer:

(1774-1845), Friedrich Wilhelm, German scholar & literary historian, studied theory & philosophy at Halle University Germany; tutor for Wilhelm von Humboldt family 1801 to 1803;  Goethe’s literary assistant for 9 years, then professor at the Weimar gymnasium (1814-20) & librarian at Weimar (1837-45).  He published poetry & a Greek lexicon, edited correspondence between Goethe & Zelter (1833-34); his correspondence with Goethe published in 2 volumes (1846, 1892)

 

Newton's mechanics:

aka Classical mechanics, physical theory describing the motion of macroscopic objects (projectiles, machinery, astronomical objects -spacecraft, planets, stars, galaxies).  If the present state is known, future movement can be predicted & its historical path determined.  The first development of this field, its physical concepts, are ascribed to Newton.  Its mathematical methods which describe the motion of bodies under the influence of a system of forces. is ascribed to Leibniz, also Lagrange, Euler & other 17th century contemporaries.

 

Newton's mechanics( religiousness):

Unlike Leibnitz, Newton believed active intervention by God was necessary to maintain the Natural world, He invoked God as a special physical cause to keep the planets in orbits & warned against using the law of gravity to view the universe as a mere machine.  God was necessary to keep the Solar system in order and prevent the stars from falling in on each other.

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dynamics:

a sub discipline of mechanics; mechanics is the general study of the relationships between motion, forces & energy, it is essential to physics; mechanics can be divided into several sub-disciplines:

kinematics- the study of motion without regard to the forces or energies that may be involved, it is the simplest branch of mechanics

dynamics- the study of both motion and forces together

statics- is the study of forces in the absence of changes in motion or energy

motion-the study of the action of changing location or position.

 

Deism of the Baroque:

Faustian Christianity recognized 2 sources of religious knowledge: revelation and natural reason.  In the Enlightenment many thinks rejected revelation but maintained reason, along with features of the natural world, as a valid source of religious knowledge.  Many motivations animated them: the Scientific Revolution; the decades of savage religious wars & the crushing political power of the Churches which forbade free though.  Deism appeared as early as the 16th century, it flowered in England & France between 1696–1801; notable is Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690).  It is roughly contemporaneous with the Baroque Age, form the early 17th century to the 1740s.

 

analytical geometry;

aka coordinate geometry or Cartesian geometry, study of geometry using a coordinate system (in contrast with synthetic geometry which dispense with coordinates or formulae); used in physics, engineering, aviation, rocketry, space science & spaceflight & is the foundation of most modern fields of geometry, including algebraic, differential, discrete and computational geometry. 

It was independently invented by Descartes (notably his Geometry of 1637) & Fermat.

 

Galileo (inertia):

He stated: "any particle projected along a horizontal plane without friction… will move along this same plane with a motion which is uniform and perpetual, provided the plane has no limits".  This was largely incorporated into Newton's first law of motion.  The principle of intertie (objects retain their velocity in the absence of any impediments) contradicting the Aristotelian hypothesis that a body remained in "forced" motion so long as “the mover" continued to act on it.

Spengler associates this law with God.

 

D'Alembert (least action): * see EndNote<A>

(1717- 1783) French mathematician, mechanician, physicist, philosopher & music theorist & with Diderot, a co-editor of the Encyclopaedia.  In 1743, he published his most famous work, Traité de dynamique, in which he developed his own laws of motion.

The “least action” principle, aka principle of stationary action, is a variational principle when applied to a mechanical system used to obtain the equations of motion; historically called "least" as its solution requires finding the path of motion in space that has the least value.

Spengler associates this law with Freedom.

 

JR Mayer conservation of energy:

(1814-1878) German physician, chemist & physicist, a founder of thermodynamics, famous for his statements of the conservation of energy (1841), today known as the first law of thermodynamics: "energy can be neither created nor destroyed".  In1842 he described the chemical process oxidation as the primary source of energy for any living creature.  He also proposed that plants convert light into chemical energy.

Spengler associates this law with immortality.

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distant forces:

this is a reference to several types of force, namely gravity, magnetic & electrostatic fields; these are all non-contact forces as opposed to contact forces (friction, tension, spring force, applied force & normal force).  Both types are invisible.

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Jesuit style (architecture, physics, mathematics): * see EndNote<B>

The Jesuits were founded in 1540 and are is associated with the Counter Reformation initiated by the Council of Trent (1545–1563);  this movement in turn is considered contemporary with the Baroque Age which began in the late sixteenth century.  This period also includes the publication of Newton’s Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687) which established classical mechanics or Physics.  Newton also along with Leibnitz (1646- 1716) established the infinitesimal calculus in 1675.  Spengler is associating the Jesuit movement with parallel (but totally independent) movements in science & mathematics.  Jesuit architecture employed dynamic curves( as against Renaissance symmetry & balance) and their work, their missions, reached out, as long range global projects.  

 

Infinitesimal Calculus:

aka calculus; mathematical study of continuous change

 

Loyola (method):

His Spiritual Exercises (1522–1524) is a set of Christian meditations, contemplation & prayers; divided into 4 thematic "weeks" of variable length, to be carried out over a period of 28-30 days; composed with the aim of helping participants in religious retreats to discern the will of God & leading to a personal commitment to follow Jesus whatever the cost.  It is a practice or methodology bereft of doctrine other than orthodoxy.

 

Newton's (method):

Newton along with Leibnitz invented Calculus, which consists of differentiation & integration.  Differential calculus (differentiation) is a method to find the derivative of a function (rate of change), the differential, & their applications.  Integral calculus (integration) is a method of finding the integral, a method to solve problems involving the area of an arbitrary shape, the length of a curve & volume of a solid.

 

optics:

branch of physics that studies the behaviour & properties of light, an electromagnetic wave, its interactions with matter & the construction of instruments that use or detect it.  It describes the behaviour of visible as well as non-visible ultraviolet & infrared light (heat).  Other forms of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. X-rays, microwaves & radio waves) exhibit similar properties.

 

acoustics:

branch of physics that deals with the study of mechanical waves in gases, liquids & solids including such things as vibration, sound, ultrasound & infrasound.