How could someone like Newton believe in irrational things

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

Cite? I hadn’t heard that Gauss was an atheist; and Wikipedia doesn’t say he was (not that Wikipedia’s the ultimate authority).

Wait, second greatest? Who’s first?

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Who’s first?
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In Newton’s own time, probably Galileo.

What is your source for this information?

I could see arguments made for Mendeleev but I’d have to say newton has a strong case for greatest scientist ever.

Welcome to the Dope. As you’ve no doubt figured out, you’re apt to get jumped on pretty quickly for certain things.

However:

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.

Albert Einstein. One of the most under-rated scientists of all! :slight_smile:

Nobody even knew who he was until Stephen Hawking released that synth album back in the late 80s.

I never heard of that guy. I’m pretty sure you made him up. :slight_smile:

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.

Trump said he was over-rated. Sad.

To be fair, Asimov never met me.

Oh wait, that was Will Rogers.

Of course Orange Hitler doesn’t like Einstein; Einstein was Jewish.

Nah Galileo’s math didn’t work until Newton fixed it for him.

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

So were many of the greatest mimes.
(Just kidding, all mimes claw their way straight from the pits of hell.)

Darwin, surely?

From the viewpoint of western society, sure. You just don’t learn about the great minds who were part of other cultures.

Since the OP has been banned, let’s close this.