Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Wyz_sub10 · 02-24-2003, 10:33 AM

From this site:

Newton Doom

Quote:

Newton's sombre prediction is part of the documentary Newton: The Dark Heretic. In a statement promoting the program, to be aired March 1, the British Broadcasting Corp. said it will show a handwritten Newton document predicting the end of the world in 2060, according to calculations he made based on the Bible.

Wasn't Newton a nut for the most part?

dangin · 02-24-2003, 11:10 AM

"Calculations he made based on the bible"

Move along folks, NOTHING to see here.

Feather · 02-24-2003, 01:47 PM

Sir Isaac was very much involved in the occult and religious aspects so prevalent in society in his day.

He wasn't a nut so much as just very eccentric.

An excellent biography of the man.

Godless Dave · 02-24-2003, 03:27 PM

What the hell has the BBC come to? First it was celebrity driving lessons, now this.

4th Generation Atheist · 02-25-2003, 05:28 PM

There's also a strong possibility, especially toward the end, that he suffered from mercury poisoning---a common ailment among those involved in alchemy. It was a widepread belief that mercury was an important ingredient in an immortality-and-transmutation potion or stone, and a lot of them got a little too exposed.

philechat · 02-25-2003, 07:08 PM

Let them artists and thinkers have their quirks. People usually ain't rational outside their field of expertise, and we probably should accept some eccentricities in just about anyone. Why bother with say Newton's apparent irrationality in a certain area?

As we know, Bohr had that Danish superstition with horseshoe crabs, Pascal had his Wager, Tesla was afraid of pearls and other round objects and fond of pigeons, Picasso drove every women he loved to suicide, Kant was obsessive-compulsive, Rimbaud a psychopath, Wagner a rabid anti-semite...

And the list goes on.

Answerer · 02-25-2003, 08:36 PM

At least Newton's work could tell those current supporters of bible code to stop dreaming and that their works might be wrong.

Answerer · 02-25-2003, 08:36 PM

At least Newton's work could tell those current supporters of bible code to stop dreaming and that their works might be wrong.

Arvel Joffi · 02-27-2003, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4th Generation Atheist
There's also a strong possibility, especially toward the end, that he suffered from mercury poisoning---a common ailment among those involved in alchemy. It was a widepread belief that mercury was an important ingredient in an immortality-and-transmutation potion or stone, and a lot of them got a little too exposed.

It was also policy for chemists at the time to taste the concoctions that they were working on. Bad policy.

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02-24-2003, 11:10 AM	#2
dangin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: The Middle, Kansas Posts: 2,637	"Calculations he made based on the bible" Move along folks, NOTHING to see here.

02-24-2003, 01:47 PM	#3
Feather Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,827	Sir Isaac was very much involved in the occult and religious aspects so prevalent in society in his day. He wasn't a nut so much as just very eccentric. An excellent biography of the man.

02-24-2003, 03:27 PM	#4
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	What the hell has the BBC come to? First it was celebrity driving lessons, now this.

02-25-2003, 05:28 PM	#5
4th Generation Atheist Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tower of Ecthelion...by the Starbuck's Posts: 1,815	There's also a strong possibility, especially toward the end, that he suffered from mercury poisoning---a common ailment among those involved in alchemy. It was a widepread belief that mercury was an important ingredient in an immortality-and-transmutation potion or stone, and a lot of them got a little too exposed.

02-25-2003, 07:08 PM	#6
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	Let them artists and thinkers have their quirks. People usually ain't rational outside their field of expertise, and we probably should accept some eccentricities in just about anyone. Why bother with say Newton's apparent irrationality in a certain area? As we know, Bohr had that Danish superstition with horseshoe crabs, Pascal had his Wager, Tesla was afraid of pearls and other round objects and fond of pigeons, Picasso drove every women he loved to suicide, Kant was obsessive-compulsive, Rimbaud a psychopath, Wagner a rabid anti-semite... And the list goes on.

02-25-2003, 08:36 PM	#7
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	At least Newton's work could tell those current supporters of bible code to stop dreaming and that their works might be wrong.

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