“As will easily be supposed, I have borrowed largely from other writers, both of the histories of special sciences and of philosophy in general.[1] I have done this without [10] scruple, since the novelty of my work was intended to consist, not in its superiority as a collection of facts, but in the point of view in which the facts were placed. I have, however, in all cases, given references to my authorities, and there are very few instances in which I have not verified the references of previous historians, and studied the original authors. According to the plan which I have pursued, the history of each science forms a whole in itself, divided into distinct but connected members, by the Epochs of its successive advances. If I have satisfied the competent judges in each science by my selection of such epochs, the scheme of the work must be of permanent value, however imperfect may be the execution of any of its portions.

[1] Among these, I may mention as works to which I have peculiar obligations, Tennemann’s Geschichte der Philosophie; Degerando’s Histoire Comparée des Systèmes de Philosophie; Montucla’s Histoire des Mathématiques, with Delalande’s continuation of it; Delambre’s Astronomie Ancienne, Astronomie du Moyen Age, Astronomie Moderne, and Astronomie du Dix-huitième Siècle; Bailly’s Histoire d’Astronomie Ancienne, and Histoire d’Astronomie Moderne; Voiron’s Histoire d’Astronomie (published as a continuation of Bailly), Fischer’s Geschichte der Physik, Gmelin’s Geschichte der Chemie, Thomson’s History of Chemistry, Sprengel’s History of Medicine, his History of Botany, and in all branches of Natural History and Physiology, Cuvier’s works; in their historical, as in all other portions, most admirable and instructive.

“With all these grounds of hope, it is still impossible not to see that such an undertaking is, in no small degree, arduous, and its event obscure. But all who venture upon such tasks must gather trust and encouragement from reflections like those by which their great forerunner prepared himself for his endeavors;—by recollecting that they are aiming to advance the best interests and privileges of man; and that they may expect all the best and wisest of men to join them in their aspirations and to aid them in their labors.

“‘Concerning ourselves we speak not; but as touching the matter which we have in hand, this we ask;—that men deem it not to be the setting up of an Opinion, but the performing of a Work; and that they receive this as a certainty—that we are not laying the foundations of any sect or doctrine, but of the profit and dignity of mankind:—Furthermore, [11] that being well disposed to what shall advantage themselves, and putting off factions and prejudices, they take common counsel with us, to the end that being by these our aids and appliances freed and defended from wanderings and impediments, they may lend their hands also to the labors which remain to be performed:—And yet, further, that they be of good hope; neither feign and imagine to themselves this our Reform as something of infinite dimension and beyond the grasp of mortal man, when, in truth, it is, of infinite error, the end and true limit; and is by no means unmindful of the condition of mortality and humanity, not confiding that such a thing can be carried to its perfect close in the space of one single day, but assigning it as a task to a succession of generations.’—Bacon—Instauratio Magna, Præf. ad fin.

“‘If there be any man who has it at heart, not merely to take his stand on what has already been discovered, but to profit by that, and to go on to something beyond;—not to conquer an adversary by disputing, but to conquer nature by working;—not to opine probably and prettily, but to know certainly and demonstrably;—let such, as being true sons of nature (if they will consent to do so), join themselves to us; so that, leaving the porch of nature which endless multitudes have so long trod, we may at last open a way to the inner courts. And that we may mark the two ways, that old one, and our new one, by familiar names, we have been wont to call the one the Anticipation of the Mind, the other, the Interpretation of Nature.’—Inst. Mag. Præf. ad Part. ii.

CONTENTS
OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

———⎯◆−◆−◆———⎯

Page
~Preface to the Third Edition.[7]~
~Index of Proper Names.[23]~
~Index of Technical Terms.[33]~
Introduction.[41]
BOOKI.
HISTORY OF THE GREEK SCHOOLPHILOSOPHY, WITH REFERENCE TO PHYSICAL SCIENCE.
Chapter I.—Prelude to the GreekSchool Philosophy.
Sect.1.First Attempts of the Speculative Faculty in PhysicalInquiries.[55]
Sect.2.Primitive Mistake in Greek Physical Philosophy.[60]
Chapter II.—The Greek SchoolPhilosophy.
Sect.1.The General Foundation of the Greek SchoolPhilosophy.[63]
Sect.2.The Aristotelian Physical Philosophy.[67]
Sect.3.Technical Forms of the Greek Schools.[73]
1. Technical Forms of theAristotelian Philosophy.[73]
2. Technical Forms of thePlatonists.[75]
3. Technical Forms of thePythagoreans.[77]
4. Technical Forms of theAtomists and Others.[78]
Chapter III.—Failure of thePhysical Philosophy of the Greek Schools.
Sect.1.Result of the Greek School Philosophy.[80]
Sect.2.Cause of the Failure of the Greek PhysicalPhilosophy.[83]
[14]
BOOKII.
HISTORY OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES INANCIENT GREECE.
Introduction.[95]
Chapter I.—Earliest Stages ofMechanics and Hydrostatics.
Sect.1.Mechanics.[96]
Sect.2.Hydrostatics.[98]
Chapter II.—Earliest Stages ofOptics.[100]
Chapter III.—Earliest Stages ofHarmonics.[105]
BOOKIII.
HISTORY OF GREEK ASTRONOMY.
Introduction.[111]
Chapter I.—Earliest Stages ofAstronomy.
Sect.1.Formation of the Notion of a Year.[112]
Sect.2.Fixation of the Civil Year.[113]
Sect.3.Correction of the Civil Year (Julian Calendar).[117]
Sect.4.Attempts at the Fixation of the Month.[118]
Sect.5.Invention of Lunisolar Years.[120]
Sect.6.The Constellations.[124]
Sect.7.The Planets.[126]
Sect.8.The Circles of the Sphere.[128]
Sect.9.The Globular Form of the Earth.[132]
Sect.10.The Phases of the Moon.[134]
Sect.11.Eclipses.[135]
Sect.12.Sequel to the Early Stages of Astronomy.[136]
Chapter II.—Prelude to theInductive Epoch of Hipparchus.[138]
[15]
Chapter III.—Inductive Epoch ofHipparchus.
Sect.1.Establishment of the Theory of Epicycles andEccentrics.[145]
Sect.2.Estimate of the Value of the Theory of Eccentrics andEpicycles. [151]
Sect.3.Discovery of the Precession of the Equinoxes.[155]
Chapter IV.—Sequel to theInductive Epoch of Hipparchus.
Sect.1.Researches which verified the Theory.[157]
Sect.2.Researches which did not verify the Theory.[159]
Sect.3.Methods of Observation of the Greek Astronomers.[161]
Sect.4.Period from Hipparchus to Ptolemy.[166]
Sect.5.Measures of the Earth.[169]
Sect.6.Ptolemy’s Discovery of Evection.[170]
Sect.7.Conclusion of the History of Greek Astronomy.[175]
Sect.8.Arabian Astronomy.[176]
BOOKIV.
HISTORY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THEMIDDLE AGES.
Introduction.[185]
Chapter I.—On the Indistinctnessof Ideas of the Middle Ages.
1.Collections of Opinions.[187]
2.Indistinctness of Ideas in Mechanics.[188]
3.Indistinctness of Ideas shown in Architecture.[191]
4.Indistinctness of Ideas in Astronomy.[192]
5.Indistinctness of Ideas shown by Skeptics.[192]
6.Neglect of Physical Reasoning in Christendom.[195]
7.Question of Antipodes.[195]
8.Intellectual Condition of the Religious Orders.[197]
9.Popular Opinions.[199]
Chapter II.—The CommentatorialSpirit of the Middle Ages. [201]
1.Natural Bias to Authority.[202]
2.Character of Commentators.[204]
3. GreekCommentators of Aristotle.[205]
[16]
4. GreekCommentators of Plato and Others.[207]
5.Arabian Commentators of Aristotle.[208]
Chapter III.—Of the Mysticism ofthe Middle Ages. [211]
1.Neoplatonic Theosophy.[212]
2.Mystical Arithmetic.[216]
3.Astrology.[218]
4.Alchemy.[224]
5.Magic.[225]
Chapter IV.—Of the Dogmatism ofthe Stationary Period.
1.Origin of the Scholastic Philosophy.[228]
2.Scholastic Dogmas.[230]
3.Scholastic Physics.[235]
4.Authority of Aristotle among the Schoolmen.[236]
5.Subjects omitted. Civil Law. Medicine.[238]
Chapter V.—Progress of the Artsin the Middle Ages.
1. Artand Science.[239]
2.Arabian Science.[242]
3.Experimental Philosophy of the Arabians.[243]
4. RogerBacon.[245]
5.Architecture of the Middle Ages.[246]
6.Treatises on Architecture.[248]
BOOKV.
HISTORY OF FORMAL ASTRONOMY AFTER THESTATIONARY PERIOD.
Introduction.[255]
Chapter I.—Prelude to theInductive Epoch of Copernicus. [257]
Chapter II.—Induction ofCopernicus. The Heliocentric Theory asserted on Formal Grounds.[262]
[17]
Chapter III—Sequel toCopernicus. The Reception and Development of the CopernicanTheory.
Sect.1.First Reception of the Copernican Theory.[269]
Sect.2.Diffusion of the Copernican Theory.[272]
Sect.3.The Heliocentric Theory confirmed by Facts. Galileo’sAstronomical Discoveries.[276]
Sect.4.The Copernican System opposed on TheologicalGrounds.[286]
Sect.5.The Heliocentric Theory confirmed on PhysicalConsiderations. (Prelude to Kepler’s Astronomical Discoveries.)[287]
Chapter IV.—Inductive Epoch ofKepler.
Sect.1.Intellectual Character of Kepler.[290]
Sect.2.Kepler’s Discovery of his Third Law.[293]
Sect.3.Kepler’s Discovery of his First and Second Laws.Elliptical Theory of the Planets.[296]
Chapter V.—Sequel to the Epochof Kepler. Reception, Verification, and Extension of the EllipticalTheory.
Sect.1.Application of the Elliptical Theory to thePlanets.[302]
Sect.2.Application of the Elliptical Theory to the Moon.[303]
Sect.3.Causes of the further Progress of Astronomy.[305]

———⎯◆−◆−◆———⎯

THE MECHANICALSCIENCES.
BOOKVI.
HISTORY OF MECHANICS, INCLUDING FLUIDMECHANICS.
Introduction.[311]
Chapter I.—Prelude to the Epochof Galileo.
Sect.1.Prelude to the Science of Statics.[312]
Sect.2.Revival of the Scientific Idea ofPressure.—Stevinus.—Equilibrium of Oblique Forces.[316]
Sect.3.Prelude to the Science of Dynamics.—Attempts at theFirst Law of Motion [319]
[18]
Chapter II.—Inductive Epoch ofGalileo.—Discovery of the Laws of Motion in SimpleCases.
Sect.1.Establishment of the First Law of Motion.[322]
Sect.2.Formation and Application of the Motion of AcceleratingForce. Laws of Falling Bodies. [324]
Sect.3.Establishment of the Second Law ofMotion.—Curvilinear Motions.[330]
Sect.4.Generalization of the Laws of Equilibrium.—Principle ofVirtual Velocities. [331]
Sect.5.Attempts at the Third Law of Motion.—Notion ofMomentum.[334]
Chapter III.—Sequel to the Epochof Galileo.—Period of Verification and Deduction. [340]
Chapter IV.—Discovery of theMechanical Principles of Fluids.
Sect.1.Rediscovery of the Laws of Equilibrium of Fluids.[345]
Sect.2.Discovery of the Laws of Motion of Fluids.[348]
Chapter V.—Generalization of thePrinciples of Mechanics.
Sect.1.Generalization of the Second Law of Motion.—CentralForces.[352]
Sect.2.Generalization of the Third Law of Motion.—Centre ofOscillation.—Huyghens.[356]
Chapter VI.—Sequel to theGeneralization of the Principles of Mechanics.—Period ofMathematical Deduction.—Analytical Mechanics. [362]
1.Geometrical Mechanics.—Newton, &c. [363]
2.Analytical Mechanics.—Euler.[363]
3.Mechanical Problems.[364]
4.D’Alembert’s Principle.[365]
5.Motion in Resisting Media.—Ballistics.[365]
6.Constellation of Mathematicians.[366]
7. TheProblem of Three Bodies.[367]
8.Mécanique Céleste, &c. [371]
9.Precession.—Motion of Rigid Bodies.[374]
10.Vibrating Strings.[375]
11.Equilibrium of Fluids.—Figure of the Earth.—Tides.[376]
12.Capillary Action.[377]
13.Motion of Fluids.[378]
14.Various General Mechanical Principles.[380]
15.Analytical Generality.—Connection of Statics andDynamics.[381]
[19]
BOOKVII.
HISTORY OF PHYSICALASTRONOMY.
Chapter I.—Prelude to theInductive Epoch of Newton. [385]
Chapter II.—The Inductive Epochof Newton.—Discovery of the Universal Gravitation of Matter,According to the Law of the Inverse Square of the Distance. [399]
1. Sun’sForce on Different Planets.[399]
2. Forcein Different Points of an Orbit.[400]
3.Moon’s Gravity to the Earth.[402]
4.Mutual Attraction of all the Celestial Bodies.[406]
5.Mutual Attraction of all the Particles of Matter.[411]
Reflections on the Discovery.[414]
Character of Newton.[416]
Chapter III.—Sequel to the Epochof Newton.—Reception of the Newtonian Theory.
Sect.1.General Remarks.[420]
Sect.2.Reception of the Newtonian Theory in England.[421]
Sect.3.Reception of the Newtonian Theory Abroad.[429]
Chapter IV.—Sequel to the Epochof Newton, continued. Verification and Completion of the NewtonianTheory.
Sect.1.Division of the Subject.[433]
Sect.2.Application of the Newtonian Theory to the Moon.[434]
Sect.3.Application of the Newtonian Theory to the Planets,Satellites, and Earth.[438]
Sect.4.Application of the Newtonian Theory to SecularInequalities.[444]
Sect.5.Application of the Newtonian Theory to the newPlanets.[446]
Sect.6.Application of the Newtonian Theory to Comets.[449]
Sect.7.Application of the Newtonian Theory to the Figure of theEarth. [452]
Sect.8.Confirmation of the Newtonian Theory by Experiments onAttraction.[456]
Sect.9.Application of the Newtonian Theory to the Tides.[457]
Chapter V.—Discoveries Added tothe Newtonian Theory.
Sect.1.Tables of Astronomical Refraction.[462]
Sect.2.Discovery of the Velocity of Light.—Römer [463]
[20]
Sect.3.Discovery of Aberration.—Bradley.[464]
Sect.4.Discovery of Nutation.[465]
Sect.5.Discovery of the Laws of Double Stars.—The TwoHerschels.[467]
Chapter VI.—The Instruments andAids of Astronomy during the Newtonian Period.
Sect.1.Instruments.[470]
Sect.2.Observatories.[476]
Sect.3.Scientific Societies.[478]
Sect.4.Patrons of Astronomy.[479]
Sect.5.Astronomical Expeditions.[480]
Sect.6.Present State of Astronomy.[481]

———⎯◆−◆−◆———⎯

ADDITIONS TO THE THIRDEDITION.
Introduction[489]
Book I.—TheGreek School Philosophy.
The Greek Schools.
The Platonic Doctrine of Ideas.[491]
Failure of the Greek PhysicalPhilosophy.
Bacon’s Remarks on the Greeks.[494]
Aristotle’s Account of the Rainbow.[495]
BookII.—The Physical Sciences in Ancient Greece.
Plato’s Timæus and Republic.[497]
Hero of Alexandria.[501]
BookIII.—The Greek Astronomy.
Introduction.[503]
Earliest Stages ofAstronomy.
The Globular Form of the Earth.[505]
The Heliocentric System among theAncients.[506]
The Eclipse of Thales.[508]
[21]
BookIV.—Physical Science in the Middle Ages.
General Remarks.[511]
Progress in the Middle Ages.
Thomas Aquinas.[512]
Roger Bacon.[512]
BookV.—Formal Astronomy.
Prelude to Copernicus.
Nicolas of Cus.[523]
The Copernican Theory.
The Moon’s Rotation.[524]
M. Foucault’s Experiments.[525]
Sequel to Copernicus.
English Copernicans.[526]
Giordano Bruno.[530]
Did Francis Bacon reject the Copernican Doctrine?[530]
Kepler persecuted.[532]
The Papal Edicts against the Copernican Systemrepealed.[534]
BookVI.—Mechanics.
Principles and Problems.
Significance of Analytical Mechanics.[536]
Strength of Materials.[538]
Roofs—Arches—Vaults.[541]
BookVII.—Physical Astronomy.
Prelude to Newton.
The Ancients.[544]
Jeremiah Horrox.[545]
Newton’s Discovery of Gravitation.[546]
[22]
The Principia.
Reception of the Principia. [548]
Is Gravitation proportional to Quantity of Matter?[549]
Verification and Completion of theNewtonian Theory.
Tables of the Moon and Planets.[550]
The Discovery of Neptune.[554]
The Minor Planets.[557]
Anomalies in the Action of Gravitation.[560]
The Earth’s Density.[561]
Tides.[562]
Double Stars.[563]
Instruments.
Clocks.[565]

CONTENTS
OF THE SECOND VOLUME.