No doubt Newton had serious problems in some areas, especially in later age. His conflicts with Hooke and Leibniz are epic.
However, while I'm no study of history and haven't read John Gribbin's book, Sunil's account of Newton as not a good experimental scientist ("Hooke was a first rate experimental scientist" ... "Newton was quite the opposite") is probably not correct. He invented and build Newtonian reflecting telescopes, ground his own mirrors, checked their quality with the phenomena of Newton's rings, used prisms to study light, dabbled in alchemy, et cetera.
Also, there are always two parts in a feud. I have gotten the impression elsewhere that Hooke was quite the contrarian in this conflict. But maybe Gribbin is better informed.
No doubt Newton had serious problems in some areas, especially in later age. His conflicts with Hooke and Leibniz are epic.
ReplyDeleteHowever, while I'm no study of history and haven't read John Gribbin's book, Sunil's account of Newton as not a good experimental scientist ("Hooke was a first rate experimental scientist" ... "Newton was quite the opposite") is probably not correct. He invented and build Newtonian reflecting telescopes, ground his own mirrors, checked their quality with the phenomena of Newton's rings, used prisms to study light, dabbled in alchemy, et cetera.
Also, there are always two parts in a feud. I have gotten the impression elsewhere that Hooke was quite the contrarian in this conflict. But maybe Gribbin is better informed.