[D66] Newton and Alchemy

[René Oudeweg]

[terug naar de 'pseudo-wetenschappen' dus...]

Isaac Newton was deeply involved in several practices that were 
mainstream or respectable in the 17th century but are now considered 
dubious or unscientific by modern standards. Importantly, this doesn’t 
diminish his genuine scientific achievements—it shows how science was 
still forming its boundaries.

Here are the main ones:

1. Alchemy

By far the biggest example

Newton spent more time on alchemy than on physics.

He wrote thousands of pages on:

Transmutation of metals (e.g., turning lead into gold)

The philosopher’s stone

Hidden “active principles” in matter

He believed alchemy revealed God’s design of nature, not just chemistry.

Why it’s dubious today

Alchemy lacks empirical reproducibility and theoretical grounding.

Its symbolic language and secrecy conflict with modern scientific norms.

Historical note

Alchemy did contribute indirectly to modern chemistry (apparatus, 
substances, lab methods).

2. Biblical Chronology & Theology as Science

Newton attempted to:

Calculate the exact date of Creation

Predict the end of the world using biblical texts

He treated scripture as a source of natural knowledge, not just faith.

Why it’s dubious today

Religious texts are not considered scientific evidence.

Theological reasoning is methodologically separate from science.

3. Aether (Æther)

Newton believed space was filled with a subtle medium (aether) that:

Transmitted forces

Explained gravity and light

Why it’s dubious today

The aether hypothesis was discarded after experiments like 
Michelson–Morley and the rise of relativity.

Gravity is now explained via spacetime curvature, not a medium.

4. Occult Forces and “Action at a Distance”

Newton was uncomfortable with gravity acting across empty space without 
a mechanism.

He speculated about hidden forces or agents acting invisibly.

Why it’s dubious today

Modern physics demands explicit, testable mechanisms (fields, particles).

Newton’s gravity works mathematically, but his interpretation was 
incomplete.

5. Astrological Influence (Indirectly)

While Newton did not openly practice astrology like Kepler did, he:

Accepted that celestial bodies might exert non-gravitational influences

Read astrological and hermetic texts seriously

Why it’s dubious today

Astrology has no empirical support and fails reproducibility tests.

6. Numerology and Sacred Geometry

Newton believed:

Mathematical ratios had divine significance

Ancient structures encoded secret knowledge

This influenced his views on harmony and order in nature.

Why it’s dubious today

Numerology lacks falsifiability and predictive power.

Important Context

These were not fringe beliefs in Newton’s time:

There was no clear boundary between science, philosophy, religion, and 
mysticism.

Newton helped create modern science while still standing in older 
traditions.

As John Maynard Keynes famously said:

“Newton was not the first of the age of reason. He was the last of the 
magicians.”