The unpublished work of Isaac Newton included much that would now be classified as occult studies. He worked extensively outside the strict bounds of science and mathematics, particularly on chronology, alchemy, and Biblical interpretation (especially of the Apocalypse). Much of his writing on alchemy may have been lost in a fire in his laboratory, so the true extent of his work in this area may have been larger than is currently known. He also suffered a 'nervous breakdown' during his period of alchemical work, which is thought by some due to the psychological transformation that alchemy originally was designed to induce, though there is also speculation it may have been some form of chemical poisoning. Sir Isaac Newton in Godfrey Knellers 1689 portrait Sir Isaac Newton, FRS (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1727 by the Julian calendar in use in England at the time; or 4 January 1643 – 31 March 1727 by the Gregorian calendar) was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and alchemist... // What is science? There are different theories of what science is. ... Wikibooks Wikiversity has more about this subject: School of Mathematics Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: Mathematics Look up Mathematics on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has more media related to: Mathematics Bogomolny, Alexander: Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles. ... Chronology is the science of locating events in time. ... Alchemy is an early protoscientific practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine,and mysticism. ... The Bible (From Greek βιβλια—biblia, meaning books, which in turn is derived from βυβλος—byblos meaning papyrus, from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus) is the sacred scripture of Christianity. ... Look up Apocalypse on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Apocalypse is a Greek word and is formed by the combination of apo (away) with calypse (disclose). ...

Newton was an astronomer as well, and as astrology and astronomy were one and the same for thousands of years leading up to and during Newton's time in history (think combination word: astrolomy), it is not at all illogical to suggest that he studied or at least dabbled in astrology. Astrology and alchemy had already been intertwined for thousands of years (see those main articles); conversely, Newton's deep studies into mathematics were obviously related to his breakthrough theories in gravity and astronomy, for which he is best known. An astronomer or astrophysicist is a scientist whose area of research is astronomy or astrophysics. ... Astrology and astronomy were deeply intertwined, and very much one and the same throughout the overwhelming bulk of human history. ... ... An astrological chart (or horoscope) - Y2K Chart — This particular chart is calculated for January 1, 2000 at 12:01:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA. (Longitude: 074W0023 - Latitude: 40N4251), using the tropical zodiac Astrology (from Greek: αστρολογία = άστρον, astron, star + λόγος, logos, word) is... Alchemy in the Western World and other locations where it was widely practiced was (and in many cases still is) closely allied and intertwined with traditional Babylonian-Greek style astrology; in numerous ways they were built to complement each other in the search for hidden knowledge. ... Wikibooks Wikiversity has more about this subject: School of Mathematics Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: Mathematics Look up Mathematics on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has more media related to: Mathematics Bogomolny, Alexander: Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles. ... Theory has a number of distinct meanings, depending on the context. ... It has been suggested that Law of universal gravitation be merged into this article or section. ... In ancient Greece and other early civilizations, astronomy consisted largely of astrometry, measuring positions of stars and planets in the sky. ...

As Isaac Newton was (indisputably) a well known alchemist of his time period, and astrology and alchemy were and in some cases still are very closely linked, it is plausible that Newton had a very good working knowledge of astrology, or at the very least a basic understanding of astrological methodology as it was related to alchemy. Logically then, one would certainly have to know a good bit about astrology in order to use alchemy effectively, and Newton along with other prominent alchemists of his time definitely knew this. Sir Isaac Newton in Godfrey Knellers 1689 portrait Sir Isaac Newton, FRS (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1727 by the Julian calendar in use in England at the time; or 4 January 1643 – 31 March 1727 by the Gregorian calendar) was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and alchemist... Look up Alchemist in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Alchemist may refer to— a person who practices alchemy. ...

It is, however, somewhat anachronistic to assume that the importance he attached to these is closely connected to contemporary attitudes. The work modern observers would call scientific, were perhaps to him of lesser importance. He was of his time, in still placing emphasis on rediscovering the occult wisdom of the ancients. In this sense, the common reference to the "Newtonian Worldview" as being purely mechanistic is somewhat misguided, as John Maynard Keynes observed in 1942 after purchasing and studying Newton's alchemical works: For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... The word occult comes from Latin occultus (hidden), referring to the knowledge of the secret or knowledge of the hidden and often meaning knowledge of the supernatural, as opposed to knowledge of the visible or knowledge of the measurable, usually referred to as science. ... Wisdom is the ability to make correct judgments and decisions. ... John Maynard Keynes John Maynard Keynes, 1st Baron Keynes of Tilton (pronounced kānz / kAnze), ) (June 5, 1883 – April 21, 1946) was an English economist, whose ideas had a major impact on modern economic and political theory as well as on Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal. ...

"Newton was not the first of the age of reason, he was the last of the magicians." - John Maynard Keynes

Speculations regarding Newton's beliefs

• Newton believed that Pythagoras must have known about Gravity, and even toyed with the idea of including margin notes attesting it.
• He, for that reason, did not use his "fluxions", but rather geometric proofs which he thought would have been more accessible to geometers of Pythagoras's era.
• He also believed that Hebrews before the Great Flood knew of the atomic structure of matter.

Pythagoras (582 BC – 496 BC, Greek: Πυθαγόρας) was an Ionian mathematician and philosopher, known best for formulating the Pythagorean theorem. ... It has been suggested that Law of universal gravitation be merged into this article or section. ... Fluxion was Isaac Newtons term for the derivative of a fluent, or continuous function (see: Calculus). ... Geometry (from the Greek words Ge = earth and metro = measure) is the branch of mathematics first introduced by Theaetetus dealing with spatial relationships. ... A geometer is a mathematician whose area of study is geometry. ... Hebrews (syns. ... The Deluge by Gustave Doré The story of a Great Flood sent by God or gods to destroy civilization as an act of divine retribution is a widespread theme in myths. ... Properties For alternative meanings see atom (disambiguation). ... Matter is commonly referred to as the substance of which physical objects are composed. ...

See also

• Astrology
• Alchemy

An astrological chart (or horoscope) - Y2K Chart — This particular chart is calculated for January 1, 2000 at 12:01:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA. (Longitude: 074W0023 - Latitude: 40N4251), using the tropical zodiac Astrology (from Greek: αστρολογία = άστρον, astron, star + λόγος, logos, word) is... Alchemy is an early protoscientific practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine,and mysticism. ...

References

• "The Foundations of Newton's Alchemy : Or,'The Hunting of the Greene Lyon'", (Cambridge Paperback Library 1983), by Betty Jo Teeter 0521273811Dobbs, ISBN

External links

• "Isaac Newton's Hidden Agenda of Mysticism and Alchemy"
• Modern recreations of Newton's alchemical experiments
• "Newton the Alchemist", from Alchemy Lab
• Transcript of an NPR interview with Michael White, the author of "Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer"
• The Link Betwixt the Planets and Metals -- Alchemy