- Title Pages
- Epigraph
- Preface
- Abbreviations and Conventions
-
I Preliminaries -
1 Newton on Mathematical Method: A Survey -
2 Newton on Certainty in Optical Lectures -
3 Descartes on Method and Certainty in the Géométrie -
II Against Cartesian Analysis and Synthesis -
4 Against Descartes on Determinate Problems -
5 Against Descartes on Indeterminate Problems -
6 Beyond the Cartesian Canon: The Enumeration of Cubics -
III New Analysis and the Synthetic Method -
7 The Method of Series -
8 The Analytical Method of Fluxions -
9 The Synthetic Method of Fluxions -
IV Natural Philosophy -
10 The Principia -
11 Hidden Common Analysis -
12 Hidden New Analysis -
V Ancients and Moderns -
13 Geometry and Mechanics -
14 Analysis and Synthesis -
VI Against Leibniz -
15 The Quarrel with Leibniz: A Brief Overview -
16 Scribal Publication, 1672−1699 -
17 Fluxions in Print, 1700−1715 - Conclusion
- A Brief Chronology of Newton’s Mathematical Work
- References
- Index
Newton on Certainty in Optical Lectures
Newton on Certainty in Optical Lectures
- Chapter:
- (p.18) (p.19) 2 Newton on Certainty in Optical Lectures
- Source:
- Isaac Newton on Mathematical Certainty and Method
- Author(s):
Niccolò Guicciardini
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
This chapter explores Isaac Newton’s methods in integrating geometry with natural philosophy, and aims to pinpoint his early program for his goals in a dialogical context. It also explores Newton’s criticism of René Descartes, in his ideas on Cartesian principles. Newton disliked Descartes’ Cartesian hypotheticism, because, according to him, such paradigms were not derived from actual experiments, but only proposed instances of one of many possible causal explanations of a phenomena.
Keywords: Isaac Newton, Cartesian hypotheticism, René Descartes, geometry, natural philosophy
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- Title Pages
- Epigraph
- Preface
- Abbreviations and Conventions
-
I Preliminaries -
1 Newton on Mathematical Method: A Survey -
2 Newton on Certainty in Optical Lectures -
3 Descartes on Method and Certainty in the Géométrie -
II Against Cartesian Analysis and Synthesis -
4 Against Descartes on Determinate Problems -
5 Against Descartes on Indeterminate Problems -
6 Beyond the Cartesian Canon: The Enumeration of Cubics -
III New Analysis and the Synthetic Method -
7 The Method of Series -
8 The Analytical Method of Fluxions -
9 The Synthetic Method of Fluxions -
IV Natural Philosophy -
10 The Principia -
11 Hidden Common Analysis -
12 Hidden New Analysis -
V Ancients and Moderns -
13 Geometry and Mechanics -
14 Analysis and Synthesis -
VI Against Leibniz -
15 The Quarrel with Leibniz: A Brief Overview -
16 Scribal Publication, 1672−1699 -
17 Fluxions in Print, 1700−1715 - Conclusion
- A Brief Chronology of Newton’s Mathematical Work
- References
- Index
