Abstract
D. T. WHITESIDE, the editor of Newton’s collected mathematical works, has recently described how Newton’s creative intellect suddenly burst forth in a scarcely controlled blaze and how his mathematical spirit, till then dormant, took fire in the magical year 1664. Dr Whiteside knows Newton and his mathematics better than anybody else, but all the same we are left not a little bewildered. How could Newton in a few months acquire such mastery of mathematical tools and techniques and such insight into the relevant literature that he might compete with and even outstrip the foremost mathematicians of his time? There may be holes in our knowledge of Newton’s early mathematics. If they cannot be filled, an investigation of Newton’s other scientific pursuits seems called for. This is most easily done in optics where Newton’s own ‘historicall narration’ describes his birth as an experimental scientist, or rather it describes how Newton wished to appear to the world. To quote from the letter (2) Newton sent to Oldenburg and the Royal Society in January 1672:
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