Du Châtelet on the Limits of Mechanical Explanation

Du Châtelet contends that it is unphilosophical to always try to provide mechanical grounds for phenomena, because these will be works of the imagination rather than truth. This chapter shows how this claim coheres with her basically positive stance on mechanical explanation. First, because of the indefinite divisibility of matter and the need for mechanical explanations to appeal to lower levels of composition, no purported mechanical explanation will be fundamental. This is illustrated through her criticisms of Hartsoeker, who declares certain kinds of particles to be fundamental and without any further explanation. Second, we cannot know in advance whether the mechanical explanation for specific unexplained properties—notably, gravitational attraction—will ever be within our grasp. Matter is potentially infinitely divisible, and Du Châtelet assumes our abilities to observe lower levels of composition are finite.