Newton and Wolff: The Leibnizian Reaction to the Principia, 1716-1763
- Creators
- Stan, Marius
Abstract
Newton rested his theory of mechanics on distinct metaphysical and epistemological foundations. After Leibniz's death in 1716, the Principia ran into sharp philosophical opposition from Christian Wolff and his disciples, who sought to subvert Newton's foundations or replace them with Leibnizian ideas. In what follows, I chronicle some of the Wolffians' reactions to Newton's notion of absolute space, his dynamical laws of motion, and his general theory of gravitation. I also touch on arguments advanced by Newton's Continental followers, such as Leonhard Euler, who made novel attempts to defend his mechanical foundations against the pro-Leibnizian attack. This examination grants us deeper insight into the fate of Newton's mechanics on the Continent during the early eighteenth century and, more specifically, sheds needed light on the conflicts and tensions that characterized the reception of Newton's philosophy of mechanics among the Leibnizians.
Additional Information
© 2012 The University of Memphis. Article first published online: 4 Sep. 2012. I thank Mary Domski for invaluable advice, patient guidance, constructive suggestions, and insightful comments as I wrote this paper. I am grateful to two anonymous referees for their penetrating comments and subtle observations on a previous draft.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 35128
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20121026-140612302
- Created
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2012-10-30Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field