Exploring the Influence of Newton's Laws in Social Science and Philosophical Thought

This paper provides an historical exploration of the inception and evolution of sociophysics, by surveying the historical and methodological debate between determinism and indeterminism within the discipline. It specifically delves into Newton's scientific approach, from its theoretical underpinnings, to its practical applications to social and behavioural sciences. The aim is to assess whether its deterministic approach can effectively describe the interactions in complex social contexts despite the unpredictable nature of human behaviours. Lastly, it engages in the philosophical debate between compatibilism and incompatibilism, which defines the possibility of the existence of free will and individual responsibility, and has therefore fundamental repercussions, particularly from a sociological, behavioural and psychological perspectives. Taking into account the historical dimension of sociophysics, this approach aims to examine and address the fundamental philosophical challenges.