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Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2014

Edited by
Andrew Janiak
Andrew Janiak
Affiliation:
Duke University, North Carolina
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Summary

In the preceding books I have presented principles of philosophy that are not, however, philosophical but strictly mathematical - that is, those on which the study of philosophy can be based. These principles are the laws and conditions of motions and of forces, which especially relate to philosophy. But in order to prevent these principles from becoming sterile, I have illustrated them with some philosophical scholia, treating topics that are general and that seem to be the most fundamental for philosophy, such as the density and resistance of bodies, spaces void of bodies, and the motion of light and sounds. It still remains for us to exhibit the system of the world from these same principles.

… to treat of God from phenomena is certainly a part of natural philosophy.

– Isaac Newton

Newton as natural philosopher

Isaac Newton’s influence is ubiquitous 300 years after his death. We employ Newtonian mechanics in a wide range of cases, students worldwide learn the calculus that he co-discovered with Leibniz, and the law of universal gravitation characterizes what is still considered a fundamental force. Indeed, the idea that a force can be “fundamental,” irreducible to any other force or phenomenon in nature, is largely due to Newton, and still has currency in the twenty-first century. Remarkably, Newton’s status as a theorist of motion and of forces, and his work as a mathematician, is equaled by his status as an unparalleled experimentalist.

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Chapter
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Newton: Philosophical Writings , pp. vii - xxxv
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2014

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References

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  • Introduction
  • Edited by Andrew Janiak, Duke University, North Carolina
  • Book: Newton: Philosophical Writings
  • Online publication: 05 August 2014
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107326347.001
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  • Introduction
  • Edited by Andrew Janiak, Duke University, North Carolina
  • Book: Newton: Philosophical Writings
  • Online publication: 05 August 2014
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107326347.001
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Edited by Andrew Janiak, Duke University, North Carolina
  • Book: Newton: Philosophical Writings
  • Online publication: 05 August 2014
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107326347.001
Available formats
×