Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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 physics continues to account for many of the phenomena of the observed world, and Newtonian celestial dynamics is used to determine the orbits of our space vehicles. This completely new translation, the first in 270 years, is based on the third (1726) edition, the final revised version approved by Newton; it includes extracts from the earlier editions, corrects errors found in earlier versions, and replaces archaic English with contemporary prose and up-to-date mathematical forms. Newtons principles describe acceleration, deceleration, and inertial movement; fluid dynamics; and the motions of the earth, moon, planets, and comets. A great work in itself, the Principia also revolutionized the methods of scientific investigation. It set forth the fundamental three laws of motion and the law of universal gravity, the physical principles that account for the Copernican system of the world as emended by Kepler, thus effectively ending controversy concerning the Copernican planetary system. The illuminating Guide to the Principia by I. Bernard Cohen, along with his and Anne Whitmans translation, will make this preeminent work truly accessible for todays scientists, scholars, and students.

FROM THE CRITICS

Times Higher Education Supplement

Will be of interest to a wide scientific and scholarly audience￯﾿ﾽthe new translation flows smoothly and elegantly.

New York Times

A new paperback of an old book may not seem like a big deal, except when its author is arguably the greatest scientist of all time and the book was first published 312 years ago.

Physics Today

The Guide is not simply a guide to reading the Principia, but is a veritable cornucopia of topics related to that work, such as issues of translation, historical background, conceptual analyses, mathematical methods, and units used. As we would expect of the doyen of Newton scholars, Cohen's judgments and analyses are up to date, fascinating, and useful. . . . Cohen and Whitman's translation deserves to become the new standard. . . . With this fine translation . . . it is now much easier for serious readers to discover that magisterial work for themselves.

London Review of Books

Copes ably with puzzles of Newtonian commentary. . .[A] new and handsome edition.

Psychological Reports