Hooke v. Newton - Calculus Research - Mathematics - home at St. Xavier High School

History of Mathematics: Biographies

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Note: Figures from The Enlightenment were multi-talented multi-taskers. You will find thinkers such as Newton and Hooke listed in reference works on Mathematics, Science and Philosophy.

The Company of their Peers

The Institute of Physics
The Newton Project
The Royal Society
Note: Use Google to search for articles on the Royal Society website as the internal search engine is problematic.

Assignment: Guiding Questions from Mr. Broe

Research the feud between Isaac Newton and Robert Hooke. Write a one page paper on 3 of the following bullet points.

What contributions did Hooke make to science? List and explain at least 3 of them.
What did the two fight over? Choose at least two topics that the two argued about and briefly explain why they disagreed.
Who won the fight between Hooke and Newton? Explain.
Explain why Isaac Newton is associated with a portrait of Hooke.
Newton has a very famous quote, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” When did Newton first say/write these words? Was Newton being sincere when he wrote/ said these words or was he being condescending? Explain.

And Now for Something Completely Imagined...

This imaginative play's artful blending of fact and fiction makes for a riveting story, but it shouldn't be a source for your paper. In his 2013 play "Isaac's Eye," Lucas Hnath sets the clash of math/science titans Hooke and Newton in current times, thereby humanizing them. Definitely catch a production when it comes to town to see the rivalry between these brilliant thinkers brought vividly to life. A thought provoking look at the scientific method.

NPR interview

New York Times review