Mechanics, mathematical physics and foundations of mathematics in the 18th and 19th Centuries

seminar: The Earth's shape in Maclaurin's works and in the D'alembert's Opuscules Mathematiques : some comparisons

speaker: Olivier Bruneau (Centre François Viète - Université de Nantes)

abstract: In his scientific works, from the Réflexions sur la cause générale des vents (1747) to its Opuscules Mathématiques (1761-1783), one of the D’Alembert’s favourite subjects is the problem of the Earth’s shape. In the Opuscules Mathématiques, D’Alembert wrote about 500 pages on this subject. In these pages, we can read some references about Maclaurin’s works, especially De Causa Fluxus et Refluxus Maris and the Treatise of Fluxions. The aim of my talk is firstly to examine what kind of Maclaurin’s results, D’Alembert takes, how he appropriates or refutes this, secondly, to show how D’Alembert put these results in his own scientific production and how he uses these in the debate with Clairaut.

timetable:
Mon 7 Jul, 18:15 - 18:55, Aula Bianchi Scienze
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