One Hundred Years of Pressure

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This monograph explores the evolution of hydrostatics as a science, illuminating its origins during the Scientific Revolution. It highlights how the history of hydrostatics showcases the distinct nature of seventeenth-century science compared to earlier periods, particularly through new insights into the concept of pressure. Key figures such as Simon Stevin, Pascal, Boyle, and Newton contributed to this understanding, while Galileo and Descartes failed to recognize the necessity of a new pressure conception, rendering their contributions less impactful. The narrative culminates with Newton, whose formulation of hydrostatics established a modern framework by articulating a technical notion of pressure. He favored a mathematical approach over experimental methods, and this preference reveals the interplay between mathematization and experimentation in the scientific advancements of the time. The book exemplifies the significant conceptual shifts that new sciences often demand, making it relevant for those studying the history and philosophy of science, as well as physicists and general readers with an interest in the subject.