Historical Critical Analysis
Tommy Collins
Roberto Santos
June 22, 2014 11A.M.
A Critical Analysis of “Sir Isaac Newton”
The article “Sir Isaac Newton,” written by Dr. Robert A. Hatch of the University of Florida, is a strong biographical exposition on the famous scientist, mathematician, and philosopher. Dr. Hatch gives brilliant insight into Newton’s struggles, influences, and triumphs, covering his childhood and his rise in academia, as well as his contributions to modern science.
Hatch starts with Newton’s childhood, explaining his tumultuous upbringing apart from his mother’s affections. He includes anecdotal material, such as Newton’s strong dislike of his stepfather, as well as his poor performance as a scholar in his youth.
Following his childhood, Hatch discusses Newton’s college career, including his continued mediocre academics and a two-year hiatus from college as a result of the plague. It was during this hiatus, Hatch explains, that Newton made his first contributions, including the conception of infinitesimal calculus, the foundations of light and color, and insight into theories of planetary motion.
Newton’s theories on planetary motion became a controversy, Hatch explains, as he was challenged by Robert Hook, who accused him of plagiarism. It is noted that Newton’s reaction to confrontation was to withdraw.
The irony of the confrontation between Newton and Hook is the eventual influence on the development of the famous Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. This work is known as “the most important book published in the history of science” (Hatch, 1998).
Hatch explains that, following their confusion about planetary motion, Hook’s colleague, Edmund Halley, “paid a legendary visit to Newton in Cambridge” (Hatch, 1998). Halley wanted to know what type of curve a planet orbits about the sun, to which Newton replied, “an ellipse.” As it turned out, Hatch describes, Newton had already done the calculations but had lost them. In order to reproduce them, Newton
Roberto Santos
June 22, 2014 11A.M.
A Critical Analysis of “Sir Isaac Newton”
The article “Sir Isaac Newton,” written by Dr. Robert A. Hatch of the University of Florida, is a strong biographical exposition on the famous scientist, mathematician, and philosopher. Dr. Hatch gives brilliant insight into Newton’s struggles, influences, and triumphs, covering his childhood and his rise in academia, as well as his contributions to modern science.
Hatch starts with Newton’s childhood, explaining his tumultuous upbringing apart from his mother’s affections. He includes anecdotal material, such as Newton’s strong dislike of his stepfather, as well as his poor performance as a scholar in his youth.
Following his childhood, Hatch discusses Newton’s college career, including his continued mediocre academics and a two-year hiatus from college as a result of the plague. It was during this hiatus, Hatch explains, that Newton made his first contributions, including the conception of infinitesimal calculus, the foundations of light and color, and insight into theories of planetary motion.
Newton’s theories on planetary motion became a controversy, Hatch explains, as he was challenged by Robert Hook, who accused him of plagiarism. It is noted that Newton’s reaction to confrontation was to withdraw.
The irony of the confrontation between Newton and Hook is the eventual influence on the development of the famous Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. This work is known as “the most important book published in the history of science” (Hatch, 1998).
Hatch explains that, following their confusion about planetary motion, Hook’s colleague, Edmund Halley, “paid a legendary visit to Newton in Cambridge” (Hatch, 1998). Halley wanted to know what type of curve a planet orbits about the sun, to which Newton replied, “an ellipse.” As it turned out, Hatch describes, Newton had already done the calculations but had lost them. In order to reproduce them, Newton