Abstract
Beginning in Antiquity, the physicists who worked on problems of equilibrium approached them using two clearly distinct approaches. Aristotle, more a philosopher than a geometer, considers equilibrium as only a special case of motion. Thus for him statics is not at all an autonomous science with independent principles. It is only a branch of dynamics, and its propositions must be deduced from the general laws which determine local motion. Archimedes, more a geometer than a philosopher, applies his great genius more to the development of a rigorous sequence of propositions drawn from clear and unquestionable axioms than to a profound penetration into the nature of things.
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References
Simonis Stevinis, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, p. 81; Liber tertius de Staticae praxi; ad Lectorem. (T. N.: The Latin title reads, Mathematical Mémoires on Statics, p. 81. Book IV, “On the Application of Statics; To the Reader.”)
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, p. 150; Appendix Statices, ubi inter alia errores quidam Staticon Idiomaton refelluntur. (T.N.: Simon Stevin, Mathematical Mémoires on Statics, p. 150; Appendix on Statics, wherre among other things certain errors in the Staticon Idiomaton are refuted.)
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, p. 150; ad Lectorem. (T. N.: The Latin reads, To the Reader.)
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, p. 151; Caput I: Causam aequilibritatis situs non esse in circulis ab extremitatibus radiorum descriptis. (T. N.: Cf. footnote 7 for the translation of the Latin.)
T. N.: Apparently, this is Albert Girard’s translation from the Latin edition of Stevin contained in footnote 6. A closer rendering of the Latin in footnote 6 reads: Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, p. 151; Chapter I: The cause of the state of equilibrium is not in the arcs described by the extremities of the radii.
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, p. 151; Caput II: Res motas impedimentis suis non esse proportionales. (T. N.: The Latin reads, Simon Stevin, Mathematical Mémoires on Statics, p. 151; Chapter II: Moving Bodies are not proportional to their resistances.)
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber tertius, de Staticae praxi, p. 81; ad Lectorem. (T. N.: The Latin read, Simon Stevin, Mathematical Mémoires on Statics, Book III, “On the Applications of Statics; p. 81; To the Reader.”)
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber tertius, de Staticae praxi, p. 81; ad Lectorem. (T. N.: The Latin read, Simon Stevin, Mathematical Mémoires on Statics, Book III, “On the Applications of Statics; p. 81; To the Reader.”)
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, pp. 12–13.
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber primus Staticae elementis, p. 34.
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber primus Staticae, de Staticae elementis, p. 35.
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, 6 Consectarium, pp. 36 and 37. (T. N.: The Latin expression “Consectarium” means conclusions.)
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber primus Staticae, de Staticae elementis. 16 Theorema, 25 Propositio; p. 46.
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Additamentum Stasticae. Pars prima: De Spartostatica; 3 Consectarium, p. 161. (T. N.: The Latin title reads, Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Addendum on Statics. Part I: On Spartostatics; 3rd Conclusion, p. 161.)
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber primus Staticae, de Staticae elementis; 9 Consectarium, p. 39.
This title page is reproduced in: Mach, Die Mechanik in ihrer Entwicklung, 2. Auflage, Fig. 21, p. 28; Leipzig, 1889.
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber primus Staticae, de Stasticae elementis, Postulata, p. 35.
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Additamentum Staticae. Additamenti Staticae pars secunda: De Trochleostatica; p. 169.
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Additamentum Staticae. Additamenti Staticae pars secunda: De Trochleostatica, p. 172.
Simon Stevin, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Additamentum Staticae. Additamenti Staticae pars secunda: De Trochleostatica, p. 101.
Heron of Alexandria, Les Mécaniques ou ľElévateur, published for the first time in French and translated by Carra de Vaux from the Arabic version of Qostâ ibn Lûkâ, Paris, 1894, p. 39.
Pappi Alexandrini, Collectiones quae supersunt,edidit F. Hultsch; Berolini, 1878. Volumen III, p. 1060. (T. N.: The Extant Collections of Pappus of Alexandria,edited by F. Hultsch, Berlin, 1878. Volume III, p. 1060.)
Simonis Stevini, Mathematicorum Hypomnematum de Statica, Liber primus Staticae, de Staticae elementis, p. 6.
Pappi Alexandrini, Collectiones quae supersunt,edidit F. Hultsch; Berolini, 1878. Volumen III, p. 1032.
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Duhem, P. (1991). Simon Stevin (1548–1620). In: The Origins of Statics. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 123. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3730-0_12
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