Infinitesimals in the foundations of Newton's mechanics (Q2495851): Difference between revisions

According to the author, Newton changed his conception of the infinitesimal, or `moment', in the first version (1684) of `De motu'. He had assumed that they were objects of some sort, although rather mysteriously so given their minute size; further, they created 'error' terms in calculations, to be removed at the end thanks to the smallness laws. In the new approach they were regarded as more fictional in status but capable of being considered in pairs when forming a (normally) finite ratio, and giving the exact value in a calculation when the limiting case was taken (his phrase `prime and ultimate ratios' belongs to this view). An interesting comparison is made with Newton's pair of readings of his second law of mechanics: as a micro-impulse \(M\), and as the ratio between \(M\) and the pertaining infinitesimal moment of time. Like Newton's original texts, the paper is somewhat difficult to follow; the contrasts between the approaches might have been more explicitly highlighted.