Ideas of Isaac Newton, by Theme
[British, fl. 1687, Born in Lincolnshire. At Trinity College, Cambridge. Published theory of gravity in 1687.]
green numbers give full details |
back to list of philosophers |
expand these ideas
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy
|
17016
|
Philosophy must abstract from the senses
|
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 2. Geometry
|
18079
|
Newton developed a kinematic approach to geometry [Kitcher]
|
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / a. Numbers
|
13152
|
We can talk of 'innumerable number', about the infinite points on a line
|
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / a. The Infinite
|
13151
|
Not all infinites are equal
|
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / l. Limits
|
18082
|
Quantities and ratios which continually converge will eventually become equal
|
6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 5. Definitions of Number / b. Greek arithmetic
|
17783
|
A number is not a multitude, but a unified ratio between quantities
|
8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 2. Powers as Basic
|
17011
|
I suspect that each particle of bodies has attractive or repelling forces
|
9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / b. Unifying aggregates
|
17028
|
Particles mutually attract, and cohere at short distances
|
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / b. Sums of parts
|
17014
|
The place of a thing is the sum of the places of its parts
|
14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 6. Theory Holism
|
17546
|
If you changed one of Newton's concepts you would destroy his whole system [Heisenberg]
|
14. Science / C. Induction / 1. Induction
|
17027
|
Science deduces propositions from phenomena, and generalises them by induction
|
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations
|
17021
|
Natural effects of the same kind should be assumed to have the same causes
|
|
17022
|
We should admit only enough causes to explain a phenomenon, and no more
|
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / k. Explanations by essence
|
17026
|
From the phenomena, I can't deduce the reason for the properties of gravity
|
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / c. Ultimate substances
|
6421
|
Newton's four fundamentals are: space, time, matter and force [Russell]
|
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 7. Later Matter Theories / a. Early Modern matter
|
13470
|
Mass is central to matter [Hart,WD]
|
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 7. Later Matter Theories / b. Corpuscles
|
17020
|
An attraction of a body is the sum of the forces of their particles
|
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation
|
23012
|
Newtonian causation is changes of motion resulting from collisions [Baron/Miller]
|
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 1. Laws of Nature
|
15863
|
The principles of my treatise are designed to fit with a belief in God
|
|
16746
|
Principles of things are not hidden features of forms, but the laws by which they were formed
|
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory
|
8340
|
I do not pretend to know the cause of gravity
|
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 6. Laws as Numerical
|
17008
|
You have discovered that elliptical orbits result just from gravitation and planetary movement [Leibniz]
|
|
17010
|
We have given up substantial forms, and now aim for mathematical laws
|
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / c. Essence and laws
|
17023
|
I am not saying gravity is essential to bodies
|
|
17009
|
I won't object if someone shows that gravity consistently arises from the action of matter
|
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / e. Anti scientific essentialism
|
13150
|
The motions of the planets could only derive from an intelligent agent
|
|
12178
|
That gravity should be innate and essential to matter is absurd
|
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / a. Explaining movement
|
15866
|
Newton reclassified vertical motion as violent, and unconstrained horizontal motion as natural [Harré]
|
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / b. Laws of motion
|
15958
|
Inertia rejects the Aristotelian idea of things having natural states, to which they return [Alexander,P]
|
|
20968
|
Newton's Third Law implies the conservation of momentum [Papineau]
|
|
17017
|
1: Bodies rest, or move in straight lines, unless acted on by forces
|
|
17018
|
2: Change of motion is proportional to the force
|
|
17019
|
3: All actions of bodies have an equal and opposite reaction
|
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / c. Forces
|
17547
|
Newton's idea of force acting over a long distance was very strange [Heisenberg]
|
|
20966
|
Newton introduced forces other than by contact [Papineau]
|
|
20967
|
Newton's laws cover the effects of forces, but not their causes [Papineau]
|
|
16708
|
Newton's forces were accused of being the scholastics' real qualities [Pasnau]
|
|
13153
|
I am studying the quantities and mathematics of forces, not their species or qualities
|
|
12724
|
The aim is to discover forces from motions, and use forces to demonstrate other phenomena
|
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / d. Gravity
|
13593
|
Newton showed that falling to earth and orbiting the sun are essentially the same [Ellis]
|
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / c. Conservation of energy
|
20969
|
Early Newtonians could not formulate conservation of energy, having no concept of potential energy [Papineau]
|
27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 4. Substantival Space
|
17013
|
Absolute space is independent, homogeneous and immovable
|
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / a. Absolute time
|
22915
|
Newton needs intervals of time, to define velocity and acceleration [Le Poidevin]
|
|
22893
|
Newton thought his laws of motion needed absolute time [Bardon]
|
|
17012
|
Time exists independently, and flows uniformly
|
|
14012
|
Absolute time, from its own nature, flows equably, without relation to anything external
|
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / g. Time's arrow
|
22954
|
Newtonian mechanics does not distinguish negative from positive values of time [Coveney/Highfield]
|
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 3. Parts of Time / d. Measuring time
|
17015
|
If there is no uniform motion, we cannot exactly measure time
|
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 3. Divine Perfections
|
17025
|
If a perfect being does not rule the cosmos, it is not God
|
28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof
|
17024
|
The elegance of the solar system requires a powerful intellect as designer
|