Nicolas Hartsoeker's critiques of Isaac Newton's natural philosophy
This essay investigates how Nicolas Hartsoeker (1656-1725) engaged with and critiqued Isaac Newton's (1647-1727) Principia. Building on earlier work, this paper offers a comprehensive analysis of Hartsoeker's sustained opposition to Newton's ideas. By examining Hartsoeker's published writings, we develop a typology of his critiques, identifying key epistemological, methodological, and natural philosophical objections. Our analysis reveals Newton's core concepts and claims that Hartsoeker contested and explores the broader intellectual stakes of this scientific disagreement.
Authors
- Steffen Ducheyne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2694-3819)
- Casper Dewit
Institutions
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
- Published
- 2026-04-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2026.102144
- Primary Topic
- Historical Philosophy and Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel