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1. Mechanistic Determinism

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   The foundational concepts of Mechanistic Determinism are generally traced back to the Enlightenment, specifically following the advancements in physics articulated by Isaac Newton in the 17th century. The success of Newtonian mechanics in predicting celestial motions fostered the view that if the initial conditions of the cosmos were perfectly known, the entire future trajectory of all matter could be calculated with absolute certainty.
   A pivotal figure in the formalization of MD was Pierre-Simon Laplace, whose thought experiment, o…

2. Polytechnique

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   The origins of Polytechnique trace back to the chaos following the dissolution of the Ancien Régime's military and technical academies. Recognizing the immediate need for scientifically educated officers and engineers for the nascent French Republic, the revolutionary government established the institution by decree of the National Convention on 28 September 1794 (13 Vendémiaire, Year III of the Revolutionary Calendar). The initial mission focused heavily on military applications, particularly …