ISAAK NEWTON

(1643-1727)

Isaac Newton was born to a farmer in the village Vulstrop (75 miles from Cambridge) and his father died before his birth. He studied at the city school, then at Trinity College, Cambridge University, where he later taught.

Newton constantly and intensely meditated on the structure of the universe, led the observations, do experiments (sometimes alchemy). In 1687 he published a grand classic work "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica," which opened the celestial mechanics, formulated the law of universal gravitation, the concept of space and time, etc. In 1672 became a member of the Royal Society (from 1703-th - the president). Appointed director of the Mint, has resulted in the order of the troubled monetary business in England. Theological Works was not distinguished by originality, but the research identified a significant milestone in the development of several sciences. He formulated the basic laws of mechanics, developed in conjunction with the G. Leibniz differential and integral calculus, created the doctrine of color and the corpuscular theory of light, calculated the orbits of the planets, and built a reflecting telescope . . . Consider that Newton assumed the existence and the absolute and relative time, and besides the laws of mechanics in the world, in his opinion, there is God. Consequently, the model of the Universe at the Newton was not a simple one: along with the mechanics of the dead bodies of nature it contained and not understandable by the human mind mind, as well as the will of the Creator.

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Isaac Newton was not a professional philosopher and did not differ encyclopedic breadth of knowledge. But perhaps it was he had enormous influence on philosophical thought in modern times.

His main interest was in those days rather narrow: mathematics, mechanics, astronomy, optics. His main work - "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. This title can be misleading. In this voluminous work of philosophical reasoning given very modest place. It is full of formulas and contains a basis of Newtonian mechanics and astronomy. The author defines the principle of knowledge, which can be considered scientific: "Do not be taken in the nature of other reasons beyond those that are true and sufficient to explain the phenomena. " A criterion of truth, he believed the experience, observation, experimentation and rigorous mathematical form of expression results.

On the existence of the law of universal gravitation guessed Kepler and Newton to Robert Hooke. But mathematically processed materials astronomical observations and accurately state the law could not. They say Newton has prompted the right decision to drop an apple tree. If that actually happened, it was only because the apple is ripe at the time when Newton, after six years of hard work came to his discovery. It noted even in the epitaph on his monument in Westminster Abbey: ".

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. . almost divine reason the first to prove the torch of Mathematics motion of the planets, comets and the way the tides of the oceans . . . "

Great achievement of Newton devoted his eulogy of his contemporary and compatriot Alexander Pope:

It was God′s world is enveloped in pitch-black darkness.

"Let there be light!" --

And then came Newton.

However, already in the XX century, after the appearance of the special theory of relativity, the poems have continued:

But Satan long awaited rematch:

Came Einstein, and it was all as before.

But in fact Newton′s theory was not refuted. His idea of absolute time was rejected (although the same physics find themselves without noticing it, revived it and now counted in the "absolute scale" age of celestial bodies and even the universe). But he, along with absolute time and space allocated and the relative. He expressed doubts about the presence of an absolute coordinate system. Incidentally, Einstein admitted: "Until now, unable to replace the single concept of the world of Newton′s another, equally comprehensive and integral concept. But the fact that we have extracted so far, it was impossible to obtain without a clear system of Newton. "

The desire to build a philosophy of nature on a mathematical basis Newton expressed this way: "It would be desirable to withdraw from the mechanics and started the other phenomena of nature" (in addition to astronomical).

This hope inspires many philosophers and scientists, but it turned out now, unrealizable. Newton somewhat rashly declared that "do not invent hypotheses. But, in fact, he had in mind the need to rely on impeccable research proved the situation. x26quot;. . . В�е же, что не выводит�� из �влений, должно называть�� гипотезою; гипотезам же метафизиче�ким, физиче�ким, механиче�ким, �крытым �вой�твам не ме�то в �к�периментальной фило�офииx26quot;.

It seems to us a typical thinker and a rationalist. But this is true only in relation to his scientific works, and even then with some reservations. In fact, the situation is more complicated. Here is what he wrote in 1703 in a letter to Locke: "Newton is really a remarkable scientist and not only for its remarkable achievements in mathematics, but also in theology, and through their knowledge of Scripture, in what few can compare with him. "

In his theological treatise on the biblical prophecies, Newton, and "invent hypotheses", and even contradict their own scientific conclusions about the absolute time, which, as he wrote in "Principles of . . . "," without relation to anything anything external, flows uniformly and another is called duration.

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In such a universal one-way flow of predicting the future can only be speculative, conjectural, calculated, but not received in the form of certain "signals from the future" as the reverse movement of the stream of time has not. Newton as a theologian without a shadow of doubt refers to a supernatural force - God. In his view, the omniscient God (and for him should have been the author of "He started . . . ", in addition to the absolute and relative time to allocate more and eternity, or" eternal present "), opened the prophets of the future. Ensure that could only be an afterthought, because "God gave . . . prophecies of the Old Testament, not in order to satisfy the curiosity of people, making them capable preduznavat future, but for the sake of their performance in practice was given to the world of His holy providence, not the insight of interpreters. "

The philosophy of natural philosophy and religion in Newton were so inconsistent, as if they belonged to two different people. This "dichotomy of intelligence" were, unconsciously. It showed that, poised between science and traditional theology opened a yawning gap.

Why thinker chose one thing? The choice seems to be absolutely clear: natural philosophy and science, because it is the brilliant scientist, whose achievements have been exalted in his life.

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What compelled him to engage in theology?

This question can be found more or less definite answer in a very few departures from the scientific method, which he allowed himself to "the beginning . . . ". In the final chapter says: "Fine connect the Sun, planets and comets could not have happened otherwise, as to the intent and power of the powerful and wise creature. " And again: "From the blind necessity of nature, which everywhere and always the same, not change things can happen. Any variety of things, which are made at the place and time, can occur only from the thought and will of the Being, must be present.

To sverhmehanizm the universe has not remained a dead body, with no place for the life and mind, the great mathematician, physicist and engineer was forced to resort to the idea (hypothesis) of God, vsepostigayuschego Mind and omnipotent being who created and ran the car universe.