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Single Idea 24064

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / b. Laws of motion]

Full Idea

What has pushed something else makes the latter push as well.

Gist of Idea

If something is pushed, it pushes back

Source

Aristotle (De Anima [c.329 BCE], 435b30)

A Reaction

Aristotle seems to have spotted that this is intrinsic to massive bodies, and is not just friction etc. Newton adds a vector to Aristotle's insight.

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'De Anima (on the psuche)', ed/tr. Reeve, C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.64

Related Idea

Idea 17019 3: All actions of bodies have an equal and opposite reaction [Newton]