Halley's Comet and the Metaphysics of Science

Should the metaphysical understandings of Isaac Newton and Immanuel Kant be taken to be the most universal understanding of astronomical phenomena, then their philosophies also become the conduits for what becomes known as contemporary knowledge. More specifically, Newton and Kant's dynamic interpretations regarding matter, motion, space and time are all applicable to Halley's comet in terms of its existence in space and time and its motion through the solar system. This essay will outline the essential metaphysical outlines of Newton and Kant, particularly in reference to the above mentioned phenomena. Moreover, the paper will discuss these metaphysical beliefs of Newton and Kant in terms of Halley's comet. Following this, the metaphysics of both Newton and Kant will be discussed for estimation of accuracy, validity, and strength in terms of their respective scientific arguments, specifically in reference to the metaphysical underpinnings.

SECTION I-ISAAC NEWTON-METAPHYSICS OF PHYSICS AND HALLEY'S COMET:

It is understood that Halley's comet is an object of matter and presumably mass that moves through space at a predictable velocity and pattern. The questions thus become, what is this matter? what exactly is the time and space that this matter moves through? and why does move the way it does? Isaac Newton offered much explanation to these questions and they are briefly summarized as follows. Moreover, it is important to note that the notions of matter, space, time and motion that follow are all primarily founded on mathematical principles of universality and/or probability, thereby making Newtonian science/principles of nature a mathematical metaphysics of science.