Categories: Bibliographical notes
One of the most influential scientific books ever is 'Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica' by Isaac Newton.The usual English translation of the title is 'The Mathematical Principles of Natural History', but the book is widely referred to as Newton's 'Principia'. The book was first published in 1687, with further editions in 1713 and 1726.
The book set out Newton's ideas about force and motion, and in particular his laws of motion and ideas about gravitation. These ideas formed the basis of scientific understanding of mechanics for over two centuries, and are still taught in schools and used for practical purposes (although Albert Einstein's theories of relativity overthrow some aspects of the Newtonian worldview).
