How the Principia got its name, or Taking natural philosophy seriously / Andrew Cunningham.
Abstract:
Explores the meaning of the title of Newton's "Principia" ("Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica") and argues that it is important to note that 'natural philosophy' is different from our modern science in the fact that 'natural philosophy was "about God" and about "God's universe".'
History of science Vol. 29 (1991), p. 377-392