The book of the famous physicist Ernst Mach is devoted to the physical foundations and historical development of mechanics. It also touched on the philosophical issues of the natural sciences, which prevented its release in the Soviet period in connection with the criticism of B.. and . Lenin . Abroad, the book withstood several dozen publications, in Russia the book was published in the pre-revolutionary period and has long become a rarity. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers - from specialists in the natural sciences to philosophers and historians. Screens (table of contents)