“The Home Life of an Astronomer”

Abstract

THE use of the words “old Newtonian theory” in connexion with the value of the deflexion of light rays passing close to the sun predicted by Einstein's restricted theory of relativity was the cause of the critical remark of which Mrs. Wilson complains. Newton never developed any theory of the bending of light. He did raise a query whether bodies could bend rays of light. This was one of 22 which he propounded, but left to posterity to follow up. Eddington's reference to the value to be expected for the deflexion according to Newton's laws of gravitation is correct in form; his subsequent statement that “Newton's theory suggests no means for bringing about the bending but contents itself with predicting it on general principles” is misleading and accounts for the reference to “Newton's theory” criticized in my review.