Louis Bertrand Castel
Born: 15 Nov 1688 in Montpellier,
France
Died: 11 Jan 1757 in Paris, France
Louis Castel attended a Jesuit school in Toulouse, then
at the age of 15, he entered the Jesuit Order. His early writing were seen by Fontenelle
who persuaded Castel to go to Paris. Indeed in 1720 Castel did go to Paris and
taught at the Jesuit school there which was later to become Lycée
Louis-le-Grand. Castel was never to leave Paris again except for a short visit
to the South of France near the end of his life.
Castel was a strong opponent of Newton's views on science. On
nationalistic grounds he supported the views of Descartes and his opposition
delayed acceptance of Newton's theories in France. Castel believed that science
should be based on logical thought not on experiment. Newton, he said, reduced
man to using only his eyes.
Castel's physics was based on reason, not observation. He also
opposed Newton on religious grounds, believing Newtonian theory to be
materialistic. He gave his alternative system to replace Newton's system but it
is of little importance.
Castel taught infinitesimal calculus and mechanics.