In the history of physics, (

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

for "I frame no

hypotheses A hypothesis (: hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. A scientific method, scientific hypothesis must be based on observations and make a testable and reproducible prediction about reality, in a process beginning with an educ ...

", or "I contrive no hypotheses") is a phrase used by

Isaac Newton Sir Isaac Newton () was an English polymath active as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author. Newton was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment that followed ...

in the essay , which was appended to the second edition of in 1713.

Original remark

A 1999 translation of the presents Newton's remark as follows:

Later commentary

The 19th-century philosopher of science

William Whewell William Whewell ( ; 24 May 17946 March 1866) was an English polymath. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. In his time as a student there, he achieved distinction in both poetry and mathematics. The breadth of Whewell's endeavours is ...

qualified this statement, saying that, "it was by such a use of hypotheses, that both Newton himself and

Kepler Johannes Kepler (27 December 1571 – 15 November 1630) was a German astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, natural philosopher and writer on music. He is a key figure in the 17th-century Scientific Revolution, best known for his laws of p ...

, on whose discoveries those of Newton were based, made their discoveries". Whewell stated:

What is requisite is, that the hypothesis should be close to the facts, and not connected with them by other arbitrary and untried facts; and that the philosopher should be ready to resign it as soon as the facts refuse to confirm it.

Later, Imre Lakatos asserted that such a resignation should not be too rushed.

References

Latin philosophical phrases Gravity Isaac Newton History of physics Razors (philosophy) Epistemology of science 1713 neologisms 1713 in England 1713 in science {{science-philo-stub

Original remark

Later commentary

See also

References