Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, natural philosopher, theologian, alchemist and one of the most influential scientists in human history. His Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica is considered to be one of the most influential books in the history of science, laying the groundwork for most of classical mechanics by describing universal gravitation and the three laws of motion. In mathematics, Newton shares the credit with Gottfried Leibniz for the development of the differential and integral calculus.
Because of the resounding impact of his work, Newton became a science icon, as did Albert Einstein after publishing his theory of relativity more than 200 years later. Many books, plays, and films focus on Newton or use Newton as a literary device. Newton's stature among scientists remains at the very top rank, as demonstrated by a 2005 dual survey of scientists in Britain's Royal Society (formerly headed by Newton) and the general public asking who had the greater effect on the history of science and on the history of humanity, Newton or Einstein, Newton was deemed the more influential for both questions by both the public and scientists. In 1999, leading physicists voted Albert Einstein "greatest physicist ever"; Newton was the runner-up. A parallel survey of rank-and-file physicists gave the top spot to Newton.
Visual arts
- William Blake created a colour copper engraving entitled Newton, in 1795. The engraving would serve as the basis for bronze statue Newton, made in 1995 by the sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi.
- French architect ÃÂtienne-Louis Boullée designed an unbuilt monumental Cénotaphe àNewton (1784), which he intended as an unadorned 500ft tall sphere encompassed by trees. Points of light would penetrate through the sphere in such a way as to replicate positions of the stars and planets in the night sky.
Poetry
English poet Alexander Pope was moved by Newton's accomplishments to write the famous epitaph: <blockquote> Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night;<br /> God said "Let Newton be" and all was light. </blockquote>
English poet J. C. Squire satirised this: <blockquote> It could not last; the Devil shouting "Ho! <br />Let Einstein be!" restored the status quo. </blockquote>
The following passage is from William Wordsworth's The Prelude, in which he describes a marble statue of Newton at Trinity College, Cambridge: <blockquote> And from my pillow, looking forth by light<br /> Of moon or favouring stars, I could behold<br /> The antechapel where the statue stood<br /> Of Newton with his prism and silent face,<br /> The marble index of a mind for ever<br /> Voyaging through strange seas of Thought, alone. </blockquote>
Literature
Books about Newton
Books featuring Newton as a character
- Newton and his alchemical experiments play a central role in the 2012 young adult novels The Prince of Soul and The Lighthouse by Fredrik Brounéus.
- Isaac Newton plays a significant role in The Age of Unreason, a series of four alternate history novels written by American science fiction and fantasy author Gregory Keyes.
- Newton is an important character in The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson. A major theme of these novels is the emergence of modern science, with Newton's work in the Principia being prominent. Newton's interest in alchemy and the dispute over the discovery of calculus are prominent plot points, and there is a (fictional) debate on metaphysics between Newton and Gottfried Leibniz moderated by Caroline of Ansbach. The development of an economy based on money and credit is also a major theme, with Newton's time with the Royal Mint and intrigues against counterfeit leading to a Trial of the Pyx.
- Newton is a recurring character in Gotlib's Rubrique-ÃÂ -Brac series of comics, where he repeatedly discovers gravity or randomly bizarre laws after being (often very heavily) hit on the head by various objects, including the famous apple.
- Newton is the protagonist of the 2002 Philip Kerr novel Dark Matter, set during the Great Recoinage.
- Newton is a major character in Michael White's 2006 novel Equinox.
- 'Sir Isaac Newton' is a newt in The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter.
- The 2017 novel A Dragon's Guide to Making Your Human Smarter by Laurence Yep features Newton as a character, having lived to the present day due to finding the Philosopher's Stone. He is a teacher at the Spriggs Academy for ordinary humans and magical beings, and continues to create innovations such as a wormhole generator. Newton also displays a wry sense of humor, using his invention to prank Charles II, supposedly on the grounds of refusing to knight him.
- Newton is a significant historical character in Marvel's 616 universe, first as an inductee and subsequent member of the Brotherhood of the Shield, then as the sorcerer supreme of his era. He is shown to be super-intelligent and inventive and often plays a villainous role.
Books featuring Newton as a plot element
Plays
TV and radio
Audio drama
Films and video
Video games
- In Mario's Time Machine, Isaac Newton appears in the game. Bowser steals the apple from the tree, and Mario returns it so it may fall and Newton can make his discoveries.
- ' features Newton, to Britain in the Grand Campaign.
- In Bioshock Infinite, in the passive upgrade system, there is a gear called "Newton's Law". He is also referenced to in the DLC ' by Rosalind Lutece, and later by Andrew Ryan.
- In The Battle Cats, Newton appears as a Zero Legends boss and a unit in the game.
Newtonmas
Some atheists, sceptics, and others have referred to 25 December as Newtonmas, a tongue-in-cheek reference to Christmas. Celebrants send cards with "Reason's Greetings!" printed inside, and exchange boxes of apples and science-related items as gifts. The celebration may have had its origin in a meeting of the Newton Association at Christmas 1890 to talk, distribute gifts, and share laughter and good cheer. The name Newtonmas can be attributed to The Skeptics Society, which needed an alternative name for its Christmas party. Another name for this holiday is Gravmas (also spelt Gravmass or Grav-mass) which is an abbreviation of "gravitational mass" due to Newton's Theory of Gravitation.
On 25 December 2014, American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted: In a subsequent interview, Tyson denied being "anti-Christian", noting that Jesus' true birthdate is unknown.
Newton's birthday was 25 December under the Old Style Julian Calendar used in Protestant England at the time, but was 4 January under the New Style Gregorian Calendar used simultaneously in Catholic Europe. The period between has been proposed for a holiday season called "10 Days of Newton" to commemorate this.
See also
References
Further reading
External links