Abstract
Absolute space, in its own nature, without relation to anything external, remains always similar and immovable. Relative space is some movable dimension or measure of the absolute spaces; which our senses determine by its position to bodies; and which is commonly taken for immovable space; such is the dimension of a subterraneous, an aerial, or celestial space, determined by its position in respect of the earth. Absolute and relative space are the same in figure and magnitude; but they do not remain always numerically the same. For if the earth, for instance, moves, a space of our air, which relatively and in respect of the earth remains always the same, will at one time be one part of the absolute space into which the air passes; at another time it will be another part of the same, and so, absolutely understood, it will be continually changed.
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© 1976 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Newton, I. (1976). On Absolute Space and Absolute Motion. In: Čapek, M. (eds) The Concepts of Space and Time. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1727-5_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1727-5_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-277-0375-0
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