through historical documents and experiments that demonstrate alchemical processes, indiana
university professor of history and philosophy of science william r. newman explains why one of the
most insightful scientists in history was convinced that alchemical transformations were
scientifically plausible.
abstract: isaac newton is known today as one of the most profound scientists to have ever lived.
newton's discoveries in physics, optics, and mathematics overturned a variety of fundamental beliefs
about nature and reshaped science in ways that are still powerfully with us. but this is only part
of newton's fascinating story. research over the last generation has revealed that the famous
scientist spent over thirty years composing, transcribing, and expounding alchemical texts,
resulting in a mass of papers totaling about a million manuscript words. in fact, newton seems to
have considered himself one of an elite alchemical brotherhood, even going so far as to coin private
anagrams of his name in the secretive custom of the sons of art. despite our growing knowledge of
newton's deep involvement in alchemy, one basic question remains to be answered why did the founder
of newtonian physics believe in alchemy, a discipline long viewed as discredited in the modern
scientific world? william r. newman's lecture will attempt to arrive at an answer to that question
by providing the evidence that led seventeenth-century thinkers to an acceptance of alchemical
transmutation. presented on october 6, 2010
originally aired on december 10, 2010
university professor of history and philosophy of science william r. newman explains why one of the
most insightful scientists in history was convinced that alchemical transformations were
scientifically plausible.
abstract: isaac newton is known today as one of the most profound scientists to have ever lived.
newton's discoveries in physics, optics, and mathematics overturned a variety of fundamental beliefs
about nature and reshaped science in ways that are still powerfully with us. but this is only part
of newton's fascinating story. research over the last generation has revealed that the famous
scientist spent over thirty years composing, transcribing, and expounding alchemical texts,
resulting in a mass of papers totaling about a million manuscript words. in fact, newton seems to
have considered himself one of an elite alchemical brotherhood, even going so far as to coin private
anagrams of his name in the secretive custom of the sons of art. despite our growing knowledge of
newton's deep involvement in alchemy, one basic question remains to be answered why did the founder
of newtonian physics believe in alchemy, a discipline long viewed as discredited in the modern
scientific world? william r. newman's lecture will attempt to arrive at an answer to that question
by providing the evidence that led seventeenth-century thinkers to an acceptance of alchemical
transmutation. presented on october 6, 2010
originally aired on december 10, 2010
