A Dialogue with Descartes: Newton's Ontology of True and Immutable Natures

This article is concerned with Newton's appropriation of Descartes' ontology of true and immutable natures in developing his theory of infinitely extended space. It contends that unless the part played by the Platonic distinction between "being a nature" and "having a nature" in Newton's thinking is properly appreciated the foundation of his doctrine of space in relation to God will not be fully understood. It also contends that Newton's Platonism is consistent with his empiricism once the mediating role is made clear that the geometry of moving loci play in grounding his intuitions concerning infinite natures.