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In recent years a new view has emerged in the philosophy of science, taking as its basis the informal axiomatisation of Newtonian particle mechanics in terms of a set-theoretical predicate. This axiomatisation itself appears first in McKinsey, Sugar, and Suppes (1953), is employed in Adams (1959) in such a way as involves particular notions of reduction and intended model, and, in an attempt to handle theory dynamics, has been further developed by J. D. Sneed in his book (1971). In this book Sneed attempts to reconstruct Newtonian particle mechanics in such a way as to clarify the role of theoretical terms in science, and to provide a conception of how scientific theories can rationally evolve in the face of recalcitrant data.

What is commonly termed ‘Newton’s theory of gravitation’ is presented in his book (1687) in the following way. Eight definitions are first given, including, for example, the definition of quantity of matter (mass) as the product of density and volume.