Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T09:13:50.006Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Qualities, Properties, and Laws in Newton's Induction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Abstract

Newton's argument for universal gravitation in the Principia eventually rested on the third “Rule of Philosophizing,” which warrants the generalization of “qualities of bodies.” An analysis of the rule and the history of its development indicate that the term ‘quality’ should be taken to include both inherent properties of bodies and relations among systems of bodies, generalized into ‘laws'. By incorporating law-induction into the rule, Newton could legitimately rebuff objections to his theory by claiming that universal gravitation was justified by his method even if he could not specify the cause of gravity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

This paper has profited greatly from discussions with Andrew Janiak, Eric Schliesser, and Ken Winkler. Thanks also to Ori Belkind, Tad Schmaltz, and audiences in Ghent, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.

References

Belkind, Ori (forthcoming), “Newton's Scientific Method and the Universal Law of Gravitation”, in Janiak, Andrew and Schliesser, Eric (eds.), Interpreting Newton: Critical Essays. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Cohen, I. Bernard (1971), Introduction to Newton's ‘Principia’. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dingle, Herbert (1967), “Particle and Field Theories of Gravitation”, Particle and Field Theories of Gravitation 18:5769.Google Scholar
Hall, A. Rupert (1980), Philosophers at War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harper, William (1993), “Reasoning from Phenomena: Newton's Argument for Universal Gravitation and the Practice of Science”, in Theerman, Paul and Seeff, Adele F. (eds.), Action and Reaction. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 144182.Google Scholar
Harper, William (2004), “Newton's Argument for Universal Gravitation”, in Cohen, I. Bernard and Smith, George E. (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Newton. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 174201.Google Scholar
Huygens, Christiaan (1888–1950), Oeuvres complètes. 22 vols. La Haye, France: Nijhoff.Google Scholar
Janiak, Andrew (2007), “Newton and the Reality of Force”, Newton and the Reality of Force 45:127147.Google Scholar
Journal des Sçavans (1688), “Review of Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica”, (10): 153154.Google Scholar
Koyré, Alexandre (1965), Newtonian Studies. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leibniz, G. W. (1989), Philosophical Essays. Translated by Ariew, Roger and Garber, Daniel. Indianapolis: Hackett.Google Scholar
McGuire, J. E. ([1967] 1995), “Transmutation and Immutability: Newton's Doctrine of Physical Qualities”, in McGuire, J. E., Tradition and Innovation: Newton's Metaphysics of Nature. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 262286. Originally published in Ambix 14:69–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGuire, J. E. ([1968] 1995), “The Origin of Newton's Doctrine of Essential Qualities”, in McGuire, J. E., Tradition and Innovation: Newton's Metaphysics of Nature. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 239261. Originally published in Centaurus 12:233–260.Google Scholar
McGuire, J. E. ([1970] 1995), “Atoms and the ‘Analogy of Nature’: Newton's Third Rule of Philosophizing”, in McGuire, J. E., Tradition and Innovation: Newton's Metaphysics of Nature. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 52102. Originally published in Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science 1:3–58.Google Scholar
McMullin, Ernan (1978), Newton on Matter and Activity. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.Google Scholar
McMullin, Ernan (2002), “The Origins of the Field Concept in Physics”, The Origins of the Field Concept in Physics 4:1339.Google Scholar
Newton, Isaac (1687), Philosophiæ naturalis principia mathematica. 1st ed. London: Jussu Societatis Regiæ ac Typis Josephi Streater.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newton, Isaac (1713), Philosophiæ naturalis principia mathematica. 2nd ed. Cambridge.Google Scholar
Newton, Isaac (1721), Opticks. 3rd ed. London: William & John Innys.Google Scholar
Newton, Isaac (1726), Philosophiæ naturalis principia mathematica. 3rd ed. London: apud Guil. & Joh. Innys.Google Scholar
Newton, Isaac (1979), Opticks. New York: Dover.Google Scholar
Newton, Isaac (1999), The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Translated by Cohen, I. Bernard and Whitman, Anne. Berkeley: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Newton, Isaac (2004), Philosophical Writings. Edited by Andrew Janiak. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Okruhlik, Kathleen (1989), “The Foundation of All Philosophy: Newton's Third Rule”, in Brown, James Robert and Mittelstrass, Jürgen (eds.), An Intimate Relation. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 97114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shapiro, Alan (2004), “Newton's ‘Experimental Philosophy’”, Newton's ‘Experimental Philosophy’ 9:185217.Google Scholar
Smith, George E. (2004), “The Methodology of the Principia”, in Cohen, I. Bernard and Smith, George E. (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Newton. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 138173.Google Scholar
Snelders, H. A. M. (1989), “Christiaan Huygens and Newton's Theory of Gravitation”, Christiaan Huygens and Newton's Theory of Gravitation 43:209222.Google Scholar
Stein, Howard (1990), “‘From the Phenomena of Motions to the Forces of Nature’: Hypothesis or Deduction?”, in Fine, Arthur, Forbes, Micky, and Wessels, Linda (eds.), PSA 1990: Proceedings of the 1990 Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, Vol. 2. East Lansing, MI: Philosophy of Science Association, 209222.Google Scholar
Stein, Howard (2002), “Newton's Metaphysics”, in Cohen, I. Bernard and Smith, George E. (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Newton. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 256293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar