Why Many Great Scientists Believed in Magic – Michael Nielsen
Michael Nielsen argues that Newton was a transitional figure who blended superstitious and modern thinking, representing the last of the magicians rather than the first pure scientist. He explores how early scientists were often alchemists and theologians, suggesting that science itself resembles magic from an outside perspective.
Summary
Nielsen challenges the conventional view of Newton as the first modern scientist, arguing instead that he was a hybrid figure who combined superstitious and modern approaches to understanding the world. He quotes the famous description of Newton as 'the last of the magicians' rather than 'the first of the age of reason,' suggesting Newton shared the same worldview as ancient intellectual builders from thousands of years ago. Nielsen explains that many early scientists were simultaneously alchemists and theologians, pursuing interests that would appear magical by today's standards. He draws a provocative parallel between science and magic, noting that both involve writing symbols on paper based on observations and using them to accomplish seemingly miraculous feats. From an outsider's perspective, Nielsen argues, scientific achievements like launching rockets or creating atomic bombs based on mathematical equations are indistinguishable from casting spells. This perspective helps explain why the boundary between science and magic was blurred for historical figures like Newton, who existed during a transitional period in human intellectual development.
Key Insights
- Nielsen argues that Newton was not the first modern scientist but rather a transitional figure with a hybrid worldview that was part superstitious and part modern
- Nielsen cites a quote describing Newton as 'the last of the magicians' rather than 'the first of the age of reason,' sharing the same intellectual perspective as ancient builders of human knowledge
- Nielsen explains that early scientists were often alchemists and theologians, pursuing interests that appear magical from a modern perspective
- Nielsen argues that science fundamentally resembles magic, as both involve writing symbols on paper based on observations to accomplish seemingly miraculous things
- Nielsen contends that from an outsider's view, scientific achievements like launching rockets or creating atomic bombs are equivalent to casting spells
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] This idea that people have that Newton was the first modern scientist is somehow wrong. There's some truth to it, but he really had this very different way of looking at the world that was part superstitious and part modern. It was a funny hybrid. He's sort of this transitional figure in some sense. I love this particular quote. Newton was not the first of the age of reason. He was the last of the magicians, the last great mind which looked out on the visible and intellectual world with the same eyes as those who began to build our intellectual inheritance rather less than 10,000 years ago. That phrase, the [0:31] last of the magicians really points at…
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