Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (Motte translation)
Isaac Newton, 1687
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Newton sets out the laws of motion and shows how a single force of gravity, falling off with the square of distance, governs the planets, the moon, comets and the tides. Book 1 treats bodies moving in empty space, Book 2 bodies moving through resisting media and fluids, and Book 3 applies the results to the solar system. A closing General Scholium says the cause of gravity is not explained, and that he will not frame hypotheses. The site carries the English translation of Andrew Motte, which follows Newton's final Latin edition.
Where it happens
- Cambridge Trinity College Library holds Newton's own annotated copy of the first edition.1
- London The Royal Society, whose president licensed the book, saw the first edition through the press.1
- Cologny, Switzerland The Bodmer Library keeps a first edition once owned by Leibniz, with his notes.1
- Williamsburg, Virginia The Swem Library at the College of William and Mary holds a first edition with Latin annotations by Thomas S. Savage.1
Through time
- 1684Halley visits Newton to ask about planetary orbits, and Newton sends him the tract De motu corporum in gyrum later in the year.1
- 1686Samuel Pepys authorises the Principia for printing on 5 July.1
- 1687The first edition is published, with Halley paying for it.1
- 1713A second edition corrects errors in the first.1
- 1726A third, improved Latin edition appears.1
- 1729Andrew Motte's English translation of the third edition appears.12
- 1846N. W. Chittenden edits the American edition, largely based on Motte's translation.12
Who is in it, and behind it
Isaac Newton author
Wrote the Principia and published it in three editions, in 1687, 1713 and 1726.12
Edmond Halley patron
Prompted Newton to write the work in 1684 and published the first edition at his own financial risk.1
Samuel Pepys patron
As president of the Royal Society he authorised the book for printing on 5 July 1686.1
Robert Hooke subject
Claimed priority for the inverse-square law, which led to a dispute that delayed the third book.1
N. W. Chittenden printer
Edited the 1846 American edition, a partly modernised version largely based on Motte.12
Roger Cotes subject
One of those who sent Newton corrections for the second edition.1
Emilie du Chatelet translator
Made a complete French translation of the three books, with a commentary of her own.1
What it is about
One law for earth and sky
The same gravity that pulls objects to the ground keeps the moon and planets in orbit, and Newton derives Kepler's laws from it.1
Mathematics as natural philosophy
Newton treats physics as geometry applied to motion and force, working from observed phenomena to forces and back.1
No hypotheses beyond the phenomena
The General Scholium says he will not frame hypotheses about the cause of gravity, stressing that the work rests on observation.1
Rules of reasoning
Newton lays down four rules of scientific reasoning that shaped later scientific method.1
Against Descartes's vortices
Book 2 concludes that the vortex theory of planetary motion conflicts with astronomical phenomena.1
In its own words
Absolute, true, and mathematical time, of itself, and from its own nature flows equably without regard to anything external, and by another name is called duration: relative, apparent, and common time, is some sensible and external (whether accurate or unequable) measure of duration by the means of motion, which is commonly used instead of true time; such as an hour, a day, a month, a year.
Every body perseveres in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a right line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed thereon.
The alteration of motion is ever proportional to the motive force impressed; and is made in the direction of the right line in which that force is impressed.
To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction: or the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts.
We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.
That there is a power of gravity tending to all bodies, proportional to the several quantities of matter which they contain.
I frame no hypotheses; for whatever is not deduced from the phænomena is to be called an hypothesis; and hypotheses, whether metaphysical or physical, whether of occult qualities or mechanical, have no place in experimental[Pg 507] philosophy.
The shape of the book
41 chapters, 266,323 words. Point at a bar.
How it came to be here
Newton wrote the Principia in Latin after Edmond Halley visited him in 1684 to ask about planetary orbits. Samuel Pepys, as president of the Royal Society, licensed the book on 5 July 1686, and Halley saw it through the press at his own expense. It appeared in 1687, with new editions in 1713 and 1726. Andrew Motte's English translation of the third edition came out in 1729, and N. W. Chittenden's American edition of 1846 is largely based on it. This site's text comes from Project Gutenberg.
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Sources
- Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica - Wikipedia
- Newton's Principia: The mathematical principles of natural philosophy - Project Gutenberg
Text: Newton's Principia: The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, tr. Andrew Motte (1729), ed. N. W. Chittenden, New York: Daniel Adee, 1846; includes Newton's System of the World. Latin original is PG 28233. US public domain (Project Gutenberg licence).