Newton's Philosophy of Nature Selections from His Writings

by Newton, Sir Isaac; Thayer, H. S.

• ISBN13: 9780486445939
• ISBN10: 0486445933
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-18
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

This book provides a wide representation of the interests, problems, and diverse philosophic issues that preoccupied the greatest scientific mind of the 17th century. Grouped in sections corresponding to methods, principles, and theological considerations, these selections feature explanatory notes and cross-references to related essays. 1953 edition.

Table of Contents

Editor's Preface	vii
Introduction: What Isaac Newton Started	ix
SELECTIONS FROM NEWTON
The Method of Natural Philosophy
Rules of Reasoning in Philosophy	3	(2)
On Hypotheses	5	(2)
The Experimental Method	7	(2)
Fundamental Principles of Natural Philosophy
Newton's Preface to the First Edition of the Principia	9	(3)
Definitions and Scholium	12	(13)
Axioms, or Laws of Motion	25	(1)
The Motions of Bodies	26	(15)
God and Natural Philosophy
General Scholium	41	(5)
God and Gravity	46	(12)
On Creation	58	(7)
On Universal Design	65	(3)
Questions on Natural Philosophy
The New Theory about Light and Colors	68	(13)
On the Science of Colors	81	(1)
Hypothesis Touching on the Theory of Light and Colors	82	(17)
Perception	99	(6)
On Gravity	105	(11)
Cotes' Preface to the Second Edition of the Principia	116	(19)
Questions from the ``Optics''	135	(46)
Notes	181	(24)
Selected Bibliography	205