Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
The Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Latin: "mathematical principles of natural philosophy", often Principia or Principia Mathematica for short) is a three-volume work by Isaac Newton published on July 5, 1687. Probably the most influential scientific book ever published, it contains the statement of Newton's laws of motion forming the foundation of classical mechanics as well as his law of universal gravitation. He derives Kepler's laws for the motion of the planets (which were first obtained empirically).
In formulating his physical theories, Newton had developed a field of mathematics known as calculus. However, the language of calculus was largely left out of the Principia. Instead, Newton recast the majority of his proofs as geometric arguments.
It is in the Principia that Newton expressed his famous Hypotheses non fingo ("I feign no hypotheses", that is, "I do not assert that any hypotheses are true"). Here is the passage containing this famous remark:
- I have not as yet been able to discover the reason for these properties of gravity from phenomena, and I do not feign hypotheses. For whatever is not deduced from the phenomena must be called a hypothesis; and hypotheses, whether metaphysical or physical, or based on occult qualities, or mechanical, have no place in experimental philosophy. In this philosophy particular propositions are inferred from the phenomena, and afterwards rendered general by induction.
The Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica is composed of three volumes.
- Of The Motion Of Bodies
- Of The Motion Of Bodies (contd.)
- The System Of The World
See also: Principia Mathematica
Referenced By
1687 | 5 July | 5th July | Age quod agis | Cotes | Gravity | Hypotheses | Hypothesis | Isaac Newton | July 5 | July 5th | Latin proverbs | Law of Universal Gravitation | Law of gravitation | Laws of Motion | List of Latin proverbs | List of astronomical topics | List of astronomical topics (N-Z) | List of books by title: P | List of physics topics M-Q | Newton's Laws of Motion | Newton's Third Law | Newton's first law of motion | Newton's law | Newton's law of universal gravitation | Newton's second law of motion | Newtonian laws of motion | Newtons Laws of Gravity | Newtons Laws of Motion | Newtons law | Physics/Gravity | Principia Mathematica | Roger Cotes | Scientific Revolution | Second law | Sir Isaac Newton | The System of the World (novel) | Third law | Tidal | Tide | Whitehead-Russell axioms
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