# How could someone like Newton believe in irrational things **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540 "2017-04-16T02:43:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Complexintuition](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Complexintuition](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Complexintuition)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/81 "2017-04-18T00:52:23Z")
I guess a good compairson would be Newton and Gauss Gauss is considered the greatest mathematician of all time, he was also known for being quite a strict rationalist/atheist, the complete opposite of Newton ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/82 "2017-04-18T01:13:48Z")
> [@Complexintuition](#): > > Gauss is considered the greatest mathematician of all time, he was also known for being quite a strict rationalist/atheist Cite? I hadn’t heard that Gauss was an atheist; and [Wikipedia doesn’t say he was](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Friedrich_Gauss#Religious_views) (not that Wikipedia’s the ultimate authority). ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/83 "2017-04-18T16:25:05Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Newton was the 2nd greatest scientist ever and was hugely admired during his own lifetime. Wait, _second_ greatest? Who’s first? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/84 "2017-04-18T16:34:05Z")
[QUOTE=chorpler] Who’s first? [/QUOTE] In Newton’s own time, probably Galileo. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/85 "2017-04-18T16:41:23Z")
> [@Complexintuition](#): > > Gauss is considered the greatest mathematician of all time, he was also known for being quite a strict rationalist/atheist, the complete opposite of Newton What is your source for this information? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/86 "2017-04-18T17:20:40Z")
I could see arguments made for Mendeleev but I’d have to say newton has a strong case for greatest scientist ever. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/87 "2017-04-18T17:36:18Z")
Welcome to the Dope. As you’ve no doubt figured out, you’re apt to get jumped on pretty quickly for certain things. However: > [@Complexintuition](#): > > i guess im still viewing him through a 21st century mindset, and that’s not really a good practice when evaluating past figures We also try to make a habit of encouraging good Dope-like behavior. You’re right! This is an important lesson, and your willingness to consider what you’ve been told speaks highly of you. Keep that open mind - you’ve got a lot to learn and this is a place that will challenge you at every single turn because we’re all a bunch of pedantic jerks. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/88 "2017-04-18T18:17:22Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Wait, _second_ greatest? Who’s first? Albert Einstein. One of the most under-rated scientists of all! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/89 "2017-04-18T18:19:31Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Albert Einstein. One of the most under-rated scientists of all! 🙂 Nobody even knew who he was until Stephen Hawking released that synth album back in the late 80s. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/90 "2017-04-18T18:32:21Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Albert Einstein. One of the most under-rated scientists of all! 🙂 I never heard of that guy. I’m pretty sure you made him up. 🙂 Years ago, I read an Isaac Asimov essay on this topic – who was the greatest scientist ever? He said something about how the more interesting question is who is the second greatest, because there’s nobody who has even come close to Newton. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/91 "2017-04-18T22:24:30Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Albert Einstein. One of the most under-rated scientists of all! 🙂 Trump said he was over-rated. Sad. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/92 "2017-04-18T22:31:24Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > I never heard of that guy. I’m pretty sure you made him up. 🙂 > > Years ago, I read an Isaac Asimov essay on this topic – who was the greatest scientist ever? He said something about how the more interesting question is who is the second greatest, because there’s nobody who has even come close to Newton. To be fair, Asimov never met me. Oh wait, that was Will Rogers. ---
**Author:** ![Beren\_Erchamion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90ced4/32.png) [@Beren\_Erchamion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beren_Erchamion)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/93 "2017-04-18T23:51:37Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Trump said he was over-rated. Sad. Of course Orange Hitler doesn’t like Einstein; Einstein was Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/94 "2017-04-19T02:11:08Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > In Newton’s own time, probably Galileo. Nah Galileo’s math didn’t work until Newton fixed it for him. ---
**Author:** ![Soft\_Denial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Soft\_Denial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soft_Denial)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/95 "2017-05-25T21:20:49Z")
many of the greatest minds in history were Christian It was the “era and time” being an atheist in the 1600s was a death wish ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/96 "2017-05-25T21:33:46Z")
> [@Soft\_Denial](#): > > many of the greatest minds in history were Christian So were many of the greatest mimes. (Just kidding, all mimes claw their way straight from the pits of hell.) ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/97 "2017-05-25T22:34:16Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Wait, _second_ greatest? Who’s first? Darwin, surely? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/98 "2017-05-25T23:31:50Z")
> [@Soft\_Denial](#): > > many of the greatest minds in history were Christian > > It was the “era and time” being an atheist in the 1600s was a death wish From the viewpoint of western society, sure. You just don’t learn about the great minds who were part of other cultures. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540/99 "2017-05-26T00:42:43Z")
Since the OP has been banned, let’s close this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-someone-like-newton-believe-in-irrational-things/784540.md?page=4)