The Cambridge Companion to Newton

by Rob Iliffe (Editor), George E. Smith (Editor)

Overview

Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) was one of the greatest scientists of all time, a thinker of extraordinary range and creativity who has left enduring legacies in mathematics and physics. While most famous for his Principia, his work on light and colour, and his discovery of the calculus, Newton devoted much more time to research in chemistry and alchemy, and to studying prophecy, church history and ancient chronology. This new edition of The Cambridge Companion to Newton provides authoritative introductions to these further dimensions of his endeavours as well as to many aspects of his physics. It includes a revised bibliography, a new introduction and six new chapters: three updating previous chapters on Newton's mathematics, his chemistry and alchemy and the reception of his religious views; and three entirely new, on his religion, his ancient chronology and the treatment of continuous and discontinuous forces in his second law of motion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107015463
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/07/2016
Series:	Cambridge Companions to Philosophy
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	656
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 1.38(d)

About the Author

Rob Iliffe is Professor of Intellectual History and History of Science at the University of Sussex.

George E. Smith is Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Preface to the new edition Rob Iliffe and George E. Smith; Introduction Rob Iliffe and George E. Smith; 1. Newton's philosophical analysis of space and time Robert DiSalle; 2. Newton's concepts of force and mass, with notes on the laws of motion Bernard Cohen; 3. Instantaneous impulse and continuous force: the foundations of Newton's Principia Bruce Pourciau; 4. The methodology of the Principia George E. Smith; 5. Newton's argument for universal gravitation William Harper; 6. Newton and celestial mechanics Curtis Wilson; 7. Newton's optics and atomism Alan E. Shapiro; 8. Newton's metaphysics Howard Stein; 9. A brief introduction to the mathematical work of Isaac Newton Niccolò Guicciardini; 10. Newton and the mechanical philosophy Alan Gabbey; 11. A preliminary reassessment of Newton's alchemy William R. Newman; 12. The religion of Isaac Newton Rob Iliffe; 13. Isaac Newton historian Mordechai Feingold; 14. Newton and eighteenth century Christianity Scott Mandelbrote; 15. Newton and the Leibniz–Clarke correspondence Domenico Bertoloni Meli.

Editorial Reviews

'Taken as a whole this companion contains high-quality and up-to-date scholarship which will give the reader access to the different disciplines in which Newton was active in a representative way. This companion contains Newton scholarship at its best. In comparison with the first edition, Newton’s so-called extra-scientific work now receives more attention. Even those who already possess a copy of the first edition should seriously consider purchasing the second edition in view of the plethora of new material which the second edition contains.' Steffen Ducheyne, Metascience

'After an excellent introduction, chapters by 15 authors cover Newton's works on physics, mathematics, alchemy, religion, ancient chronology, and more. In each chapter, the authors write from a depth of expertise apparent in the detailed expositions and arguments'. M. Dickinson, Choice

'Libraries catering for academic work in the history and philosophy of science will most certainly want this book.' Martin Guha, Reference Reviews

From the Publisher