Metaphysics of Space As an Epistemological Foundationof Isaac Newton’s Heterodox Theology and Historiography

Abstract

The article deals with the Newtonian concept of space, which became not only the basis of classical mechanics, but also the central component of Newton’s Christian theology and his non-canonical preaching. The author of the paper analyses the ontological dualism of the thinker. Newton distinguished absolute and relative space, defending the principles of ontological dualism. It is revealed that Newton’s ontological dualism is directly caused by his theological conclu­sions about the presence of God in the Universe. It was characteristic for Newton to combine the ideas in physics and theological metaphysics into one indivisible unity. It is found out that the English scientist regarded the absolute space as in­herent to God, and relative spaces as characteristic of the Universe in which we exist and which we can explore. Newton formulated the basic principles of his “scientific” Christian homiletics, non-canonical and often heterodox from the view of the Anglican religion. It is revealed that Newton’s Christian sermon was intended for an extremely narrow circle of people, mainly his followers Newtonians and the members of the Royal Society. An attempt is made to ana­lyse the effectiveness of Newtonian “scientific” homiletics in the context of the social life of England in the late 17th – early 18th centuries.