Blogcritics: Comments on It's December 25th- Happy birthday, Mr Enlightenment

Comment by DrPat

Mon, 27 Dec 2004 04:24:18 EST

Incidentally, the third book of Stephenson's Baroque Cycle is titled The System of the World, an obvious nod to Newton's work.

Comment by DrPat

Mon, 27 Dec 2004 04:21:26 EST

Let's not forget Neal Stephenson, who has published an entire trilogy about Newton and Leibnitz, with fact and fiction carefully woven together. I might want to debate you, Al, about the authorship of the enlightenment. Newton certainly saw further and with more depth on some topics, but he was by no means first in the development of science. He lived in an era when quite ordinary and common men were excited over "natural philosophy", the discipline which would develop into scientific inquiry. Newton was still a college student when the Royal Society was formed in London to pursue these inquiries. (Although he would surely be its most illustrious member when he did join.)

Comment by Eric Berlin

Mon, 27 Dec 2004 02:10:37 EST

Mr. Barger: well put, and well-crafted lede. At least as far as films are concerned, I think that the greats do get their shot at "greatness" on the silver screen, though it often takes a while (especially for the good ones). Take, for example: - Shakespeare in Love - A Beautiful Mind - The Aviator Pretty good films about some pretty good and innovative minds. I'm sure there are a few more... Though I suppose "IQ," which peripherally involves Einstein in a romantic comedy starring Tim Robbins and Meg Ryan, wouldn't qualify, eh? Eric Berlin Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com