Beyond Apples: The Hidden World of Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton—the name that evokes images of apples falling to the ground and brilliant insights into the nature of gravity

However, if you’re picturing a strictly rational scientist meticulously documenting his observations without mysticism, you’re in for a surprise.

Recent discoveries have unveiled an Isaac Newton we never knew: a man who blended science and spirituality, who walked the line between rigorous empiricism and profound mysticism.

The Unexpected Auction Unveiling

It all began in 1936. At Sotheby’s in London, an extensive collection of scientific documents and personal papers related to Newton was presented for auction. Our image of Newton was about to undergo a seismic shift.

Purchased in part by the renowned British economist John Maynard Keynes, these papers contained revelations that startled and intrigued historians. Far from being solely analytical scribbles, many of these papers detailed Newton’s forays into areas we might today label as pseudoscience.

Newton’s Secret World

Behind the math and the physics, it seems Newton had a deep-seated interest in the world of the occult and was particularly obsessed with religion.

Contrary to the popular belief that he pioneered the Age of Reason, these manuscripts unveiled a Newton who appeared more as a spiritual seeker, endeavoring to decrypt religious texts and ancient myths. For Newton, understanding the universe was a spiritual quest as much as a scientific one.

Beyond religion, Newton had an undeniable fascination with alchemy. In an era when alchemy was seen as a blend of science and magic, aiming to convert base metals into gold and discover the elixir of life, Newton was right in the thick of it.

He believed that ancient knowledge, lost to time, was encoded in Greek myths. Far from the whimsical tales most consider them to be, Newton saw them as encrypted recipes from the past.

The Philosopher’s Stone, a substance purported to enable the transmutation of common metals into gold, was among Newton’s obsessions. Imagine the father of modern science, experimenting in candle-lit chambers, mixing arcane substances, trying to birth gold!

Newton’s religious inclinations were far from mainstream. He held controversial views that challenged the central doctrines of Christianity. Delving deep into ancient Christian texts, Newton became convinced that the Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being equally divine—was a misconstruction. Instead, he viewed Christ as the Son of God but not as an equal.

For Newton, his scientific inquiries and theological beliefs were intertwined as part of a grander pursuit of understanding the divine laws of the universe.

The Duality of Isaac Newton

While the newfound documents shade Newton in mystic hues, let’s not forget the scientist in him. This man revolutionized our understanding of light, motion, and gravity. He challenged the prevalent beliefs of his time, believing, for example, that the same laws of motion applied both on Earth and in the heavens.

His insights into gravity—picturing it as an invisible force acting over distances, without any medium—were groundbreaking, to say the least.

Calculus, a new branch of math that altered the scientific landscape, was another feather in Newton’s cap. This technique allowed scholars to understand and calculate constantly changing quantities, laying the foundation for future discoveries.

Rethinking Our Icons

This revelation about Newton’s multifaceted interests reminds us that historical figures, just like us, were complex individuals, filled with contradictions and varied interests.

It also underlines the age-old debate of science versus religion, proving that the two aren’t exclusive but deeply interconnected for many.

So, the next time you think of Isaac Newton, remember not just the scientist who reshaped the contours of physics but also the man who sought God in equations and saw myths as hidden manuals.

As we dig into the past, who knows what other surprises await? Let’s appreciate the many shades of Sir Isaac Newton – the rationalist, the alchemist, the theologian, and above all, the ceaseless seeker of truth.