Abstract
If one wanted to characterize the general scientific approach of the eighteenth-century by means of a single concept, there would be much to be said for selecting the notion of force. Newton’s Principia (1687) had unified the laws of terrestrial mechanics and planetary motion by propounding a mathematical conception of force applicable in principle within every field of natural philosophy. Discussion of the universal principles and characteristic quantities of motion had entered a new stage as a result of the publication of this book. The plan to extend the application of the conception of mechanical force to the fields of optics and chemistry was explicitly formulated by Newton in his Opticks (1704), and developed into what was to become the general paradigm of Newtonian physics.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
