When1: 1780
Who: Pierre-Simon de Laplace [Laplace, Pierre-Simon de]
What: mathematician
Where: Paris, France
works\ Mémoire sur la probabilité des causes par les événements or Memoir on the probability of events [1774]; Théorie du mouvement et de la figure elliptique des planètes or Theory of movement of planet elliptical orbits [1776]; Mécanique céleste or Celestial Mechanics [1780]; Essai philosophique sur les probabilités or Philosophical essay on probabilities [1814]
Detail: He lived 1749 to 1827 and studied partial differential equations, Laplace transforms and operators, perturbations method, spherical coordinates, finite-differences method, and divergence theorem.
After proving that planetary elliptical orbits can be stable, he said, "Je n'avais pas besoin de cette hypothèse-là" or "I had no need of that hypothesis" when asked by Napoleon why he did not invoke God to explain solar-system stability, as Newton had thought necessary because of chaotic conditions (which are there but just small enough).
Epistemology
Given physical laws and particle motions and positions, people can predict everything in the future.
Metaphysics
Solar system formed from spinning gas cloud {nebular hypothesis}. Gravity and motion correct planetary-orbit perturbations, rather than causing chaos.
Mathematical Sciences>Mathematics>History>Calculus
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Date Modified: 2022.0224