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The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
by
,
In his monumental 1687 work Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, known familiarly as the Principia, Isaac Newton laid out in mathematical terms the principles of time, force, and motion that have guided the development of modern physical science. Even after more than three centuries and the revolutions of Einsteinian relativity and quantum mechanics, Newtonian phy
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Paperback, 991 pages
Published
October 20th 1999
by University of California Press
(first published July 1687)
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Of course I have never read the entire text of this monumental work. I did read several parts of it in the period 1972-1974 when I was studying the History & Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne, and still have the two volume paperback set printed by the University of California Press in 1974 (originally published by UC in 1934).
There are a lot of mathematical proofs scattered throughout the volumes, which were mostly less interesting to me than parts I could read as simply l ...more
There are a lot of mathematical proofs scattered throughout the volumes, which were mostly less interesting to me than parts I could read as simply l ...more
What did i learn from this book?
I finally learned why Newton is a genius. Why the planets stay in orbit. Why reason finally and forever took the place of authority. I learned when science was once and for all declared the way to "know". I learned why calculus is necessary and why Newton invented it. I learned why math is the language of the universe. I learned why geometry is so important.
I am in awe of Newton. Everything and everyone who followed him was influenced by him. Not just in the scien ...more
I finally learned why Newton is a genius. Why the planets stay in orbit. Why reason finally and forever took the place of authority. I learned when science was once and for all declared the way to "know". I learned why calculus is necessary and why Newton invented it. I learned why math is the language of the universe. I learned why geometry is so important.
I am in awe of Newton. Everything and everyone who followed him was influenced by him. Not just in the scien ...more
I tried. But this is Newton using geometry to explain the calculus behind his theory of gravity. Every few pages, between the charts and equations, he writes a one or two sentence introduction to the proposition about to be proved. I understood those. Mostly. And I could see this is where Newton’s Laws of Motions come from. His proofs are beyond me though.
Interestingly, one of the few other things I could understand, beyond his Preface, was the General Scholium at the end. After describing the h ...more
Interestingly, one of the few other things I could understand, beyond his Preface, was the General Scholium at the end. After describing the h ...more
Aug 05, 2013
Conrad
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mathematics,
science-physics
First, A Clarification: The publication I have is the hardcover revision by Florian Cajori of Andrew Motte's 1729 English translation, copyrighted in 1934 by the Regents of the University of California, and published by UC Berkeley and UCLA Press.
I should also note that, although I have read Newton's Principia several times over several years and for various reasons, I doubt I have ever completed the whole book. To do so would be advisable only under limited circumstances.
For whatever reason, Ne ...more
I should also note that, although I have read Newton's Principia several times over several years and for various reasons, I doubt I have ever completed the whole book. To do so would be advisable only under limited circumstances.
For whatever reason, Ne ...more
Одма да кажем да немам шта паметно да кажем о овој књизи јер је Њутн ипак можда мало пренапредан за мене. На почетку сам покушавао да пратим и донекле успијевао, али то није дуго потрајало јер су ствари врло брзо постале прекомпликоване. Наравно, овакве научне класике данас је практично немогуће читати без разноразних додатних објашњења и коментара, којих у овом издању нажалост нема, мада морам да напоменем да имам (у папирном облику) једну апсолутну звијер од издања, тешку једно сто кила, са оо
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One of the most intelligent and influential books of all time. Period. This is an older read I remember fondly enough to rate the full 5 stars even though it has been a while.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Dec 17, 2013
Chris Duval
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-engineering-technology
The original book is one of the foundational books for modernity, expounding both mechanics and the calculus while explaining astronomy. (The little digression at the end into theology can be ignored.)
One can imagine an e-edition of this book where, as one reads the description of the ratio of this or that, the relevant lines on the diagram were highlighted. Even better, when areas are described by line segments belonging to the same line, the e-edition could add a side diagram with links to the ...more
One can imagine an e-edition of this book where, as one reads the description of the ratio of this or that, the relevant lines on the diagram were highlighted. Even better, when areas are described by line segments belonging to the same line, the e-edition could add a side diagram with links to the ...more
This book, written by Isaac Newton in 1588, served as the foundation of physics for more than 300 years, or up to the time Einstein developed relativity theory. The fact that it is still in print more than 400 years after being written puts it in nearly the same class as the bible. One does not actually read this book so much as marvel at it. The book is chock full of hundreds of geometric diagrams which essentially deal with systematic measurement and calculation. The thing that strikes one mos
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Jan 19, 2014
Dipesh
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Newton's followers
Recommended to Dipesh by:
Sir Issac Newton
- an ingenious and energetic builder who's astonishingly brilliant at composing gorgeous monuments of the most intensely clever design. Sometimes these appear as great books like the Principia itself. Sometimes they appear in experiments. But we would be wrong to look for a single key which unlocks the whole mystery of Isaac Newton.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1729) ... An English translation by Andrew Motte, based on the 1726 3rd edition of Philosophiae Naturalis Principia ...more
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1729) ... An English translation by Andrew Motte, based on the 1726 3rd edition of Philosophiae Naturalis Principia ...more
Newton unleashed one of the most startling scientific undertakings in history with his seemingly simple question posed in this hallowed treatise: what would happen if seven people representing various socio-economic strata of American life were stranded together on a desert island? In the centuries since the publication of this philosophical juggernaut men have agonized over the fundamental question of whether to sleep with Ginger or Mary Ann…but what about the old broad? Why doesn’t anyone go t
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This book stands as one of the great monuments of science. If you can peer through the ponderous geometric proofs of Newton's physical principles, there is an elegance to his theories that transcends mere science and mathematics and touches the sublime! He actually formulated his theories using his newly-invented methods of Calculus, but few educated readers of his day understood the Calculus, so he proved his ideas using the methods of geometry (which all educated persons knew). We owe much of
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I don't want to create a whole new shelf for this, but I didn't read it - I gave up after reading as far as I could. My giving up has nothing to do of course with this historical book of the highest importance. However, given that the subject is complex and the language arcane I am afraid I would need an interpreter for both concept and language.
I'll stick to learning my physics from more modern sources. I love reading original sources, and for the things I could grasp this book was very intrigu ...more
I'll stick to learning my physics from more modern sources. I love reading original sources, and for the things I could grasp this book was very intrigu ...more
Hard going since Newton was so shy about using easy calculus when hard analytic geometry could do the job. Still, this is one of the most important books ever written and anyone with an interest in the history of science (or in seeing Newton draw up an epistemology at the start of book three to keep his critics from savaging him like they did with his Optics) should carve out a few months, get a bunch of paper, and go to.
To see how the great man thought...
This book helps me a lot.
Therefore, He was a real genius.
Sir Isaac Newton,
Chapeau!
Sir Isaac Newton,
Chapeau!
I wrote in Chinese, very long, too lazy to translate~
总评：
当初想到读这本经典的缘起是什么呢？
是因为我读广义相对论的时候，意识到爱因斯坦所破的是很多传统观念的冗余，于是我尝试去读类似于《费恩曼物理学讲义》，然而却没有感觉，并且意识到——这种冗余已经很沉重，需要追根溯源，同时我还思考为什么物理学没有进行公理化，很多地方是漫漶不清的。于是开始阅读《自然哲学的数学原理》，追根溯源进行研究，并且我坚持认为运动学的本质应该是变分法，因此计划读完之后去读朗道的力学。同时发现，牛顿当初已经进行了公理化尝试，然而并没有归结到本质性问题（数学工具的不足）。在阅读到一半时，为了追求更本源，去读了亚里士多德的《物理学》，大失所望，才明白牛顿的正经祖宗并不是亚里士多德，而是阿基米德。
牛顿的写书意识逻辑是非常优美清晰的，比伽利略的作品要好很多了。然而其很多观点是建立在伽利略的观点基础上（如惯性的观念等），是伽利略观点的体系化、规范化。虽然都伽利略的书会少趣味，但还是看一看伽利略的力学观点《关于两门新科学的谈话》吧，动力学概念的源头，还是要寻找到伽利略头上 ...more
总评：
当初想到读这本经典的缘起是什么呢？
是因为我读广义相对论的时候，意识到爱因斯坦所破的是很多传统观念的冗余，于是我尝试去读类似于《费恩曼物理学讲义》，然而却没有感觉，并且意识到——这种冗余已经很沉重，需要追根溯源，同时我还思考为什么物理学没有进行公理化，很多地方是漫漶不清的。于是开始阅读《自然哲学的数学原理》，追根溯源进行研究，并且我坚持认为运动学的本质应该是变分法，因此计划读完之后去读朗道的力学。同时发现，牛顿当初已经进行了公理化尝试，然而并没有归结到本质性问题（数学工具的不足）。在阅读到一半时，为了追求更本源，去读了亚里士多德的《物理学》，大失所望，才明白牛顿的正经祖宗并不是亚里士多德，而是阿基米德。
牛顿的写书意识逻辑是非常优美清晰的，比伽利略的作品要好很多了。然而其很多观点是建立在伽利略的观点基础上（如惯性的观念等），是伽利略观点的体系化、规范化。虽然都伽利略的书会少趣味，但还是看一看伽利略的力学观点《关于两门新科学的谈话》吧，动力学概念的源头，还是要寻找到伽利略头上 ...more
The Principia (1687) was Isaac Newton's grand synthesis of (1) Copernicus' heliocentric theory, (2) Kepler's three planetary laws, (3) Galilei's study's of motion and forces and (4) Netwon's own mathematical analysis. It was more than this though; it was the first philosophical system of the world since Aristotle's philosophy (which had been used by christian theologians since the 12th century as the system of the world).
Newton writes this book in the style of Euclidean geometry: starting with a ...more
Newton writes this book in the style of Euclidean geometry: starting with a ...more
What can top this?!? Laws of motion. F=ma rules! (Though quantum mechanics have proven it to be fundamentally false.) And calculus?!? Pure genius. The thought of one human mind creating such an elegant tool to calculate everything from force to economics to anything requiring calculations of rate of change 'almost' makes being human worthwhile. Poetry at its most finest. Almost makes one believe there must be a god.
It is a rare pleasure to sit down and read a book upon which your entire culture owes its existence. This would be a five star book, but I threw the other star ninja-style at the editor who gave primacy to Hawking's name on the binding.
I have a feeling that I've learnt nothing abt math the past 15 years....
An open door into the mind of the man who revolutionized the way to think about mathematics and physical science. It is technical.
Who am I kidding? I never read more than 10 pages of this masterpiece of arcane physics. Still, a book for the millenia.
هنا ولد كل شيء.
قبله العدم .. وبعده هو لكن بشكل آخر.
قبله العدم .. وبعده هو لكن بشكل آخر.
This book is epic. I once spilled glucosamine on it and my soul was ripped from my body by a jealous god.
Newton interjects philosophy and debate into math, making theory easier to accept than when handed down for rote memorization in textbooks hundreds of years later.
One of the densest books that I've ever read, but also the most elegant and structured.
While this is the most important book in all of science, I must caution you , this is a tough read . I recommend that you know calculus and classical mechanics prior (and euclidean geometry is a MUST), Newton doesnt use any familiar calculus notation at all , and doesnt make it easy to read. However , credit where credit is due , the way he structures the book is incredible , written in the style of an ancient greek text where he begins with axioms and definitions and then proceeds to prove theo
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We are in 1687, Newton just climbed Euclid's shoulder to show us how bodies move (nothing sexy, though) using geometry. The show starts with three axioms also called "the laws of motion". From these three, he goes building a tight knitted set of theorems about bodies interacting with each other through invisible forces. The whole thing is of course demonstrated using geometrical arguments. SEVERAL abstract arguments; i.e. tons of ratios including the inverse square law (gravity). He often tries
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Sir Isaac Newton, FRS , was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, and alchemist. His Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, is considered to be the most influential book in the history of science. In this work, Newton described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion, laying the groundwork for classical mechanics, which dominated
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“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.”
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