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Single Idea 17008

[from 'Principia Mathematica' by Isaac Newton, in 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 6. Laws as Numerical ]

Full Idea

You have made the astonishing discovery that Kepler's ellipses result simply from the conception of attraction or gravitation and passage in a planet.

Gist of Idea

You have discovered that elliptical orbits result just from gravitation and planetary movement

Source

report of Isaac Newton (Principia Mathematica [1687]) by Gottfried Leibniz - Letter to Newton 1693.03.07

Book Reference

Newton,Isaac: 'Philosophical Writings' [CUP 2004], p.106


A Reaction

I quote this to show that Newton made 'an astonishing discovery' of a connection in nature, and did not merely produce an equation which described a pattern of behaviour. The simple equation is the proof of the connection.