IMPORTANCE OF BOSCOVICH’S THEORY OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY FOR MODERN SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY

Text topic: Serbian Philosophic Culture

Text author: Драгослав Стоиљковић

Boscovich’ theory of natural philosophy, published in 1758, made a great influence on his peers and had plenty of followers in centuries to come. It contributed to the discovery of atomic structure and inspired many scientists to work on further advancements of modern material structure comprehensions. In 1993, the physicist Leon Ledermann, a Nobel Prize laureate, wrote that “Boscovich’s philosophy is a key for the entire modern physics”. German philosopher Nietzsche regarded Boscovich’s theory “the greatest triumph over the senses that has yet been achieved on earth”. Frenchman Herismann believed that “the entire Boscovich’s philosophy will become a philosophy of the 21st century”. This article includes a presentation of Boscovich’s life and activities, description of his philosophy as well as its contributions to modern science and philosophy.