Newton's Principia, The Central Argument: Translation, Notes, Expanded Proofs

by Dana Densmore, William H. Donahue (Translator)

Makes the great adventure of Principia available not only to modern scholars of history of science, but also to nonspecialist undergraduate students of humanities. It moves carefully from Newton's definitions and axioms through the essential propositions, as Newton himself identified them, to the establishment of universal gravitation and elliptical orbits. The guidebook unfolds what is implicit in Newton's words as he himself would have filled in the steps and completes the argument in ways that are authentic and not anachronistic, exactly following Newton's thinking rather than substituting tools of modern calculus or the formulations of modern physics. It is Newton in his own terms. This is a wonderful book. ―Richard S. Westfall

Genres: Science, Physics, Mathematics, Philosophy, Astronomy

589 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Dallas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Densmore's notes are illuminating and showcase a level of charm and levity not often seen in denser history of math texts. Some of the editorial choices are baffling (red text? strange font choice? seemingly arbitrary use of italics?) but nothing out of the ordinary for commonly re-edited works. The background on mathematical practice at the time (compounding ratios, etc.) and reminders not to view Newton's conception of forces &c. with an ahistorical lens particularly stands out---but I do wish there was a longer discussion of the algebraic and notational developments happening concurrently, as well as an addendum on the fluxion debate and vortices debate. Oh well, you can't have everything! still a solid edition.

[Han Ha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saved my junior math class at St. John’s college