Students will have to submit a written assignment before May 8th, for which they can choose between:

1. A small research project (essay) of 750-1200 words, concerning the relation between the ‘Principia’ and some other text, for example, another part of Newton’s work, or the critical summary of a book or article concerning Newton, put in relationship with our reading of ‘Principia’. Feel free to come discuss your ideas during the lecture or send the proposals to lion.staubli@gess.ethz.ch.
2. Answering four questions (three factual questions plus a bonus question) about selected secondary sources (Option 1: “The Religion of Isaac Newton”, pp. 485-520, and “A Preliminary Reassessment of Newton's Alchemy”, pp. 463-477; Option 2: “Feynman’s lost lecture”, pp. 63-94, 113-170. Students should also explain how they solved difficulties and challenges encountered during the reading process (unknown historical references, new words and concepts, etc.). Students may only answer the questions relating to one of the above options. We expect plain, short answers whenever possible, unless stated otherwise.

Questions for the texts “The Religion of Isaac Newton” and “A Preliminary Reassessment of Newton's Alchemy”:

question 1

• a What does analysis and synthesis mean in optics and in chymistry?
• b What did Boyle call “fixed niter” and “spirit of niter”?
• c What distinguishes vegetal from mechanical processes in the production of natural compounds? How does Newton believe that it is possible to distinguish them?
• d Which text of Boyle do we know that Newton has read?

question 2

• a Which interpreter of prophecy and apocalypse did Newton admire conspicuously? What is the main strength of his interpretation for Newton?
• b From which sources does Newton take his interpretation of Natural Phenomena in the Bible?
• c What do Solomon’s temple measurements symbolize for Newton?
• d Who is for Newton the main source of the corruption of the true religion? Where and when did he live? What does Newton blame him for?
• e Which two arguments does Newton use to downgrade the commonly spread image of this historical figure?

question 3

• a What is similar between men and God, according to Newton?
• b For which aspect of God should God be worshiped in Newton's view?
• c How did Newton think the deceptions and illusions of imagination can be dealt with?
• d Historians defined the Gnostic movement as an attempt to use certain kinds of knowledge so as to escape from our world, which was created by an evil divinity. Does Newton define Gnosticism in the same way? Explain in at most 5 sentences.

question 4

Answer one of the following questions in about 5 to 8 lines:

1. How do you think chemical analysis and synthesis as a pattern could have inspired Newton’s method in the “Principia”?
2. Do you think that some aspects of Newton’s religious conceptions appear or inspire the method of the “Principia”? Do you see how Newton's conception of God's power and action in the world was reflected in the Principia? Please explain why.