The Newtonian Moment: Isaac Newton and the Making of Modern Culture

A compelling new look at the most important contributor to modern science and his effect on modern culture and thought

Isaac Newton's scientific work at Cambridge University was groundbreaking. From his optical experiments with prisms during the 1660s to the publication of both the Principia (1687) and the Opticks (1704), Newton's achievements were widely disseminated, inciting tremendous interest and excitement. Newtonianism developed into a worldview marked by many tensions: between modernity and the old guard, between the humanities and science, and, in public battles, between great minds. The Newtonian Moment illuminates the many facets of his colossal accomplishments, offering a panoramic view of the profound impact of Newtonianism on the science, literature, art, and religion of the Enlightenment. Copiously illustrated with items drawn from the collections of The New York Public Library as well as numerous other libraries and museums, The Newtonian Moment enlightens with an in-depth look at the man, his world, and his enduring legacy.

"Newton's ultimate ascendancy is not a story of irresistible victory but a colorful saga of national prejudice, simple jealousy, ingenious technology and intellectual debate. [Mordechai] Feingold's lucid and cogent account proves that even where one of its chief heroes is concerned, science involves far more than a disinterested pursuit of certainty and truth."--Theodore K. Rabb, Los Angeles Times