Fear: if we allow action at a distance, then anything is permitted anywhere
Billiard ball motion could be determined by huge (far away) bodies of motion rather than anything local.
in 17th century, “mechanistic philosophy” (e.g. Boyle)
All explanations should be given by just matter and motion
Magnets thought to emit something similar to levitator particles
in 19th century, get the development of a field.
Newton’s gravity is action at a distance is already well-established
action at a distance now tolerated widely
Faraday/Maxwell are able to reform E&M that doesn’t require action at a distance, have nothing to say about gravity.
Einstein then gets rid of it for gravity