A celebrated work in the history of science and a monument of British book design. First book to be printed in Caslon's Great Primer Roman

This vibrant biography profiles the famed physicist as an acclaimed mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, philosopher, and inventor as well.

A View of Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy is a significant work by the renowned scientist Sir Isaac Newton himself. In this book, Newton provides a comprehensive overview of his groundbreaking theories and philosophical perspectives that revolutionized the understanding of the physical world. Key Aspects of The Book “A View of Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy: Principia Mathematica: Newton explains the fundamental principles of his landmark work, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, commonly known as the Principia. He elucidates his laws of motion, universal gravitation, and the mathematical framework that underpins his theories, shaping the foundations of modern physics. Experimental and Deductive Reasoning: Newton emphasizes the importance of empirical observation and rigorous experimentation in scientific inquiry. He highlights the interplay between experimental data and deductive reasoning, illustrating his scientific method and its application in formulating laws and theories. The Nature of Light and Optics: Newton delves into his experiments and theories on the nature of light and optics. He discusses the phenomena of reflection, refraction, and color, providing insights into the behavior of light and the properties of different materials. Through A View of Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy, readers gain a deeper understanding of Newton's profound contributions to the scientific community. From his laws of motion to his investigations into light and optics, the book showcases Newton's intellectual prowess, rigorous scientific approach, and the transformative impact of his discoveries on the field of physics. Sir Isaac Newton: Sir Isaac Newton, an English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, is regarded as one of the greatest scientists in history. Born in 1643, Newton's groundbreaking work in the fields of mechanics and gravitation laid the foundation for classical physics. His seminal work, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, introduced the laws of motion and the universal law of gravitation, transforming our understanding of the physical world. Newton's contributions to mathematics and science revolutionized scientific thought, establishing him as an intellectual giant whose influence continues to shape our understanding of the universe.

In this monograph, Steffen Ducheyne provides a historically detailed and systematically rich explication of Newton’s methodology. Throughout the pages of this book, it will be shown that Newton developed a complex natural-philosophical methodology which encompasses procedures to minimize inductive risk during the process of theory formation and which, thereby, surpasses a standard hypothetico-deductive methodological setting. Accordingly, it will be highlighted that the so-called ‘Newtonian Revolution’ was not restricted to the empirical and theoretical dimensions of science, but applied equally to the methodological dimension of science. Furthermore, it will be documented that Newton’s methodology was far from static and that it developed alongside with his scientific work. Attention will be paid not only to the successes of Newton’s innovative methodology, but equally to its tensions and limitations. Based on a thorough study of Newton’s extant manuscripts, this monograph will address and contextualize, inter alia, Newton’s causal realism, his views on action at a distance and space and time, the status of efficient causation in the /Principia/, the different phases of his methodology, his treatment of force and the constituents of the physico-mathematical models in the context of Book I of the /Principia/, the analytic part of the argument for universal gravitation, the meaning and significance of his regulae philosophandi, the methodological differences between his mechanical and optical work, and, finally, the interplay between Newton’s theology and his natural philosophy.

Isaac Newton was a dedicated alchemist, a fact usually obscured as unsuited to his stature as a leader of the scientific revolution. Author Philip Ashley Fanning has diligently examined the evidence and concludes that the two major aspects of Newton’s research—conventional science and alchemy—were actually inseparable. In Isaac Newton and the Transmutation of Alchemy, Fanning reveals the surprisingly profound influence that Newton’s study of this hermetic art had in shaping his widely adopted scientific concepts. Alchemy was an ancient tradition of speculative philosophy that promised miraculous powers, such as the ability to change base metals into gold and the possibility of a universal solvent or elixir of life. Fanning compellingly describes this carefully tended esoteric institution, which may have found its greatest advocate in the career of the father of modern science. Relegated to the fringes of discourse until its twentieth-century revival by innovative thinkers such as psychiatrist Carl Jung, alchemy offers a key to understanding both the foundations of modern knowledge and important avenues in which we may yet discover wisdom.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.