Newton's absolute space, developed partly in direct response to Cartesian physics, derives its philosophical motivation from genuine ambiguities in Descartes' own extension-matter conflation.

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Descartes / Cartesian physics(the rival philosopher whose ideas Newton was reacting against): René Descartes was a 17th-century French philosopher who proposed a different theory: that space and matter are the same thing, and that space is only the arrangement of physical objects. 'Cartesian' just means 'related to Descartes.'
Extension-matter conflation(describing the specific ambiguity in Descartes' theory that motivated Newton's response): Descartes blurred the distinction between 'extension' (the fact that something takes up space) and 'matter' (physical stuff). A 'conflation' means mixing two different concepts together as if they were the same thing.
Newton, Isaac(historical reference to whose theory of absolute space is being discussed): A 17th-century English scientist and mathematician who created the laws of motion and gravity. He also developed a specific theory about space itself—that it exists as an absolute, fixed background independent of objects in it.
Philosophical motivation

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