mechanical philosophy

Mechanical philosophy is an approach to understanding nature that views the universe and physical phenomena as a vast, complex machine composed of particles and forces. It suggests that everything operates according to predictable, physical laws, much like the gears and cogs in a watch. This perspective emerged in the 17th century, emphasizing that natural processes can be explained without invoking spiritual or mystical explanations, focusing instead on matter, motion, and mathematical laws to understand how things work. It laid the foundation for modern physics by emphasizing a mechanistic and deterministic view of the universe.