Ideas from 'Principia Mathematica' by Isaac Newton [1687], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Philosophical Writings' by Newton,Isaac [CUP 2004,0-521-53848-3]].
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1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy
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17016
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Philosophy must abstract from the senses
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6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 2. Geometry
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18079
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Newton developed a kinematic approach to geometry [Kitcher]
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6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / l. Limits
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18082
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Quantities and ratios which continually converge will eventually become equal
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8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 2. Powers as Basic
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17011
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I suspect that each particle of bodies has attractive or repelling forces
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9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / b. Unifying aggregates
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17028
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Particles mutually attract, and cohere at short distances
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9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / b. Sums of parts
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17014
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The place of a thing is the sum of the places of its parts
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14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 6. Theory Holism
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17546
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If you changed one of Newton's concepts you would destroy his whole system [Heisenberg]
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14. Science / C. Induction / 1. Induction
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17027
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Science deduces propositions from phenomena, and generalises them by induction
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations
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17022
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We should admit only enough causes to explain a phenomenon, and no more
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17021
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Natural effects of the same kind should be assumed to have the same causes
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / k. Explanations by essence
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17026
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From the phenomena, I can't deduce the reason for the properties of gravity
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26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / c. Ultimate substances
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6421
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Newton's four fundamentals are: space, time, matter and force [Russell]
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26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 7. Later Matter Theories / a. Early Modern matter
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13470
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Mass is central to matter [Hart,WD]
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26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 7. Later Matter Theories / b. Corpuscles
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17020
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An attraction of a body is the sum of the forces of their particles
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation
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23012
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Newtonian causation is changes of motion resulting from collisions [Baron/Miller]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 6. Laws as Numerical
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17010
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We have given up substantial forms, and now aim for mathematical laws
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17008
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You have discovered that elliptical orbits result just from gravitation and planetary movement [Leibniz]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / c. Essence and laws
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17023
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I am not saying gravity is essential to bodies
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27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / a. Explaining movement
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15866
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Newton reclassified vertical motion as violent, and unconstrained horizontal motion as natural [Harré]
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27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / b. Laws of motion
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20968
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Newton's Third Law implies the conservation of momentum [Papineau]
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17018
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2: Change of motion is proportional to the force
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15958
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Inertia rejects the Aristotelian idea of things having natural states, to which they return [Alexander,P]
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17017
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1: Bodies rest, or move in straight lines, unless acted on by forces
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17019
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3: All actions of bodies have an equal and opposite reaction
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27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / c. Forces
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17547
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Newton's idea of force acting over a long distance was very strange [Heisenberg]
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20966
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Newton introduced forces other than by contact [Papineau]
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20967
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Newton's laws cover the effects of forces, but not their causes [Papineau]
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16708
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Newton's forces were accused of being the scholastics' real qualities [Pasnau]
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13153
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I am studying the quantities and mathematics of forces, not their species or qualities
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12724
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The aim is to discover forces from motions, and use forces to demonstrate other phenomena
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27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / d. Gravity
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13593
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Newton showed that falling to earth and orbiting the sun are essentially the same [Ellis]
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27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / c. Conservation of energy
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20969
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Early Newtonians could not formulate conservation of energy, having no concept of potential energy [Papineau]
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27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 4. Substantival Space
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17013
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Absolute space is independent, homogeneous and immovable
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27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / a. Absolute time
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22915
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Newton needs intervals of time, to define velocity and acceleration [Le Poidevin]
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22893
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Newton thought his laws of motion needed absolute time [Bardon]
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17012
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Time exists independently, and flows uniformly
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14012
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Absolute time, from its own nature, flows equably, without relation to anything external
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27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / g. Time's arrow
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22954
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Newtonian mechanics does not distinguish negative from positive values of time [Coveney/Highfield]
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27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 3. Parts of Time / d. Measuring time
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17015
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If there is no uniform motion, we cannot exactly measure time
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28. God / A. Divine Nature / 3. Divine Perfections
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17025
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If a perfect being does not rule the cosmos, it is not God
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28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof
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17024
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The elegance of the solar system requires a powerful intellect as designer
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