James Clerk Maxwell e a unidade do mundo: modelos e metáforas na construção de teorias científicas

Abstract

This is a research about the use of metaphors in the construction of models by the Scotish Physician James Clerk Maxwell. The aim of the research was to comprehend in which way the use of metaphors and models is legitimate in Science, and in what measure it contributes to its success. Also, tries to comprehend in which measure the use of artifices like models and analogies between different branches of Science forward the explicative and predictive success of the physician s theory that is studied here. It explores the theological and philosophycal beliefs of the author, who sees the world as a unity, allowing for the analogy between distinct branches of Physics. His developments with theories like heat, colour, optics, magnetism, and electricity enable to highlight this vision in the whole of his work. Maxwell is considered the starter of a new methodology with the use of models and metaphors. It explores the development of the theory of colours, the mathematical description of the stability of the rings of Saturn, and the development of the theory of gases as an introduction to the discussion of the theory of electromagnetism. It describes the theoretical development of electromagnetism in its several different moments. The theoretical construction of electromagnetism highlights the gradual abandonment of mecanicism, the intense use of temporary models and metaphors, and the enphasis in the quantification and use of experiments. It discusses the relationship between Maxwell and the philosophical, social and theological discussions of his time, his engagement in practical activities in this sense, and his cientific and philosophical influences. It describes and discusses the philosophical texts of the scientist, in which his ontology, his theological beliefs, and his analogy conceptions are highlighted. It discusses the issue of the use of analogies in Science, comparing several authors who deal with the subject. The methodology used was that of bibliographic survey with critical analysis of the author s literature, and of his commentators, and also a critical commentary on the primary and secondary texts. It concludes that the scientific success of Maxwell is due to his wager on the unity of the world guaranteed by God, as well as the unity between the world and the human mind, positions that showed to be well-succeeded when applied to the scientific methodology. It concludes also for the legitimacy and necessity of the use of metaphors and models in the scientific enterprise.