Reassessing the Wider Aspects of Newton’s Thought – A Symposium

John Henry

doi:10.1163/15733823-02620008

Abstract

Abstract After a brief introduction, this “symposium” presents four essay reviews of three recent major studies of Newton’s life and works beyond the mathematics, physics and natural philosophy for which he is principally known: Jed Buchwald’s and Mordechai Feingold’s Newton and the Origin of Civilization (2013), Rob Iliffe’s Priest of Nature: The Religious Worlds of Isaac Newton (2017), and William R. Newman’s Newton the Alchemist (2019); and they address Newton’s work on history, chronology, theology and alchemy. The four reviewers are leading Newton scholars in their own right, and assess how these three studies advance our understanding of Newton the “scientist”, as well as Newton the man in his times. Niccolò Guicciardini considers their relevance to our understanding of Newton’s mathematics; Scott Mandelbrote assesses how they advance our understanding of Newton’s local and historical context; Steffen Ducheyne focuses on what we can learn about Newton’s methodological concerns and working practices; while Stephen Snobelen considers how these studies can help us understand the place of religion in Newton’s life and work. We conclude with responses from each of the reviewed authors: Feingold (representing also his co-author Jed Buchwald), Iliffe, and Newman. New insights into key questions are afforded throughout. Should Newton’s work in these different areas be considered continuous with his more “scientific” works, or compartmentalized according to his rigorous disciplinary procedures?

Highlights

Henry each of the reviewed authors: Feingold (representing his co-author Jed Buchwald), Iliffe, and Newman
All three volumes are impressively comprehensive in their coverage and thoroughly detailed in their execution
It is the satisfying sense of completion provided by these three works – the sense that all the “non-scientific” aspects of Newton’s work have been comprehensively covered – which has led to this “symposium”

Summary

Introduction

Henry each of the reviewed authors: Feingold (representing his co-author Jed Buchwald), Iliffe, and Newman. New insights into key questions are afforded throughout.

Results

Conclusion