The Cambridge Companion to Newton

Description

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was one of the greatest scientists of all time, a thinker of extraordinary range and creativity who has left enduring legacies in mathematics and physics. While most famous for his Principia, his work on light and colour, and his discovery of the calculus, Newton devoted much more time to research in chemistry and alchemy, and to studying prophecy, church history and ancient chronology. This new edition of The Cambridge Companion to Newton provides authoritative introductions to these further dimensions of his endeavours as well as to many aspects of his physics. It includes a revised bibliography, a new introduction and six new chapters: three updating previous chapters on Newton's mathematics, his chemistry and alchemy and the reception of his religious views; and three entirely new, on his religion, his ancient chronology and the treatment of continuous and discontinuous forces in his second law of motion.

Rob Iliffe is Professor of Intellectual History and History of Science at the University of Sussex. George E. Smith is Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University, Massachusetts.

'Taken as a whole this companion contains high-quality and up-to-date scholarship which will give the reader access to the different disciplines in which Newton was active in a representative way. This companion contains Newton scholarship at its best. In comparison with the first edition, Newton's so-called extra-scientific work now receives more attention. Even those who already possess a copy of the first edition should seriously consider purchasing the second edition in view of the plethora of new material which the second edition contains.' Steffen Ducheyne, Metascience 'After an excellent introduction, chapters by 15 authors cover Newton's works on physics, mathematics, alchemy, religion, ancient chronology, and more. In each chapter, the authors write from a depth of expertise apparent in the detailed expositions and arguments'. M. Dickinson, Choice 'Libraries catering for academic work in the history and philosophy of science will most certainly want this book.' Martin Guha, Reference Reviews