Newton on the Structure and Parts of Space

Abstract

This presentation will investigate the parts of space, and its relationship with metrical structure, in Newton’s natural philosophy. The historical background to Newton’s claims will form an important part of the investigation, in addition to an assessment of the recent articles by Nerlich, Huggett, Maudlin, DiSalle, Torretti, McGuire, and several others, on this subject. While various aspects of these previous contributions will prove informative, it will be argued that the underlying goals of Newton’s pronouncements on the parts of space, including their ontological implications for absolute and/or substantival space, have largely eluded prior analysis.