The article delves into the intriguing disagreement among historians of science regarding the origin of the idea of universal gravity. Prominent researchers of the genesis of Newton's Principia did not believe that he could have come up with this idea in 1666, after observing a falling apple, as he claimed. On the other hand, prominent biographers of Newton did believe. The proposed key to solving this paradox is a thought experiment described in Newton's manuscript, ‘The System of the World,’ which preceded the creation of his ‘Principia.’ According to the proposed ‘subjunctive’ scenario, it was possible to come from the motion of a projectile to the concept of universal gravity, relying only on the knowledge and skills of Galileo in 1611.

这篇文章深入探讨了科学史学家之间关于万有引力概念起源的有趣分歧。研究牛顿原理起源的著名研究人员并不相信他能像他声称的那样，在 1666 年观察到一个下落的苹果后提出了这个想法。另一方面，牛顿的著名传记作家确实相信这一点。解决这一悖论的关键是牛顿手稿《世界体系》中描述的思想实验，该实验先于牛顿的《原理》的创作。根据所提出的“虚拟”情景，仅依靠伽利略在 1611 年的知识和技能就有可能从抛射体的运动得出万有引力的概念。