On Newton’s Mathematical Writings: Disciplinary Boundaries and Circulation

The image of Isaac Newton as a lonely mathematician is problematized by a palaeographic study of his mathematical manuscript archive. A study of Newton's mathematical archive, now made possible by several online projects, reveals that he corresponded on mathematical matters with practitioners, mathematics tutors and librarians, mostly based in London, and with colleagues in Cambridge, Oxford, and Scotland. Further, Newton was actively engaged in public lecturing and disputations in Cambridge. Our historical understanding of Newton the mathematician should include a due consideration of the above aspects of his work, which are somewhat obscured in the print edition of his mathematical papers.