Newton on Matter and Activity"Newton on Matter and Activity shows persuasively that while the Principia remains within the first two stages of inquiry (mathematical and physical) into nature, Newton spent the next forty years of his life making a philosophical analysis of matter, force, and transmission of force. Close attention is paid to methodological issues, especially Newton's move beyond inductivism and toward a reproductive theoretical schema of interpretation required to treat of attraction, hardness, and impenetrability." --Cross Currents "While McMullin's study is indebted to the work of contemporary Newton scholars, his arguments are frequently original and he tackles tangled topics with circumspection and admirable clarity. This closely argued book is an up-to-date and judicious study of Newton's natural philosophy, providing a critical survey of a convoluted area of scholarship. In clarifying Newton's ontology, McMullin has made a valuable contribution to Newtonian studies." --International Studies in Philosophy "In this delightfully brief and trenchant book Ernan McMullin elevates several current problems in Newtonian scholarship to a new level of sophistication." -- Eighteenth-Century Studies ERNAN McMULLIN [1924-2011] was John Cardinal O'Hara Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abbrev active principles aether aether theory agency alchemical appears argues argument attraction attribute Bechler Cartesian cause change of motion chemical claim conatus concept of matter contact action context corpuscles criterion density Descartes distance draft draft-material edition electric spirit essential experience explain explanatory extension forces acting God's gravitational motion gravity Hypothesis impenetrability impressed force impulse induction inert inertiae inference insita intensity-invariant inverse-square law laws of force laws of motion Leibniz Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence light light-particles magnetic mass material mathematical McGuire mechanical philosophy medium metaphor metaphysical move natural philosophy neo-Platonic Newton Newtonian notes ontology operation Opticks passage phenomena physical planets postulate primordial particles Principia Prop proportional quantity of matter Query regard resistance Rule Scholium sense Snell's Law sort space suggested theory things tion transduction transmutability uniform motion universal properties universal qualities univocal velocity vis insita vis viva Westfall