Newton on the Ganges: Asiatic Enlightenment of British Astronomy

Historian Simon Schaffer, the 2008 Harry Camp Memorial Lecturer, spoke on Newton's fascination with discoveries about ancient Indian philosophy and discussed the global network of information on which Newton relied for his Principia Mathematica. Schaffer is the co-author, with Steven Shapin, of "Leviathan and the Air Pump" (1985) and joint winner of the 2005 Erasmus Prize. Recent publications include edited collections "The Sciences in Enlightened Europe" (1999) and "The Mindful Hand" (2007).
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[@sebastianbalbo1906]

Sanscrit sources were very important

[@khanna9paresh]

I always had an idea that all the religions in the world somehow had the roots back to the Sanatana Dharma. And all the knowledge in the west esp. in Europe had been in one way or the other been contributed by Hindustan. Though very little to not at all credited for it. This is the proof! Thank you! This guy is brilliant! Namo-Namaha! /\

[@money5434]

I agree with your statement to some extent. Ancient Indian philosophers and sages were the first to contribute to knowledge in general. They also contributed to the major religions. One of the reasons why the Sanatan Dharma is the least credited is due to the hegemony over the Sanskrit language by the Brahmans. It was not allowed to be taught to anyone except the Brahmans. This severely limited the propagation of the Vedic thought to a very few people. Just compare that to the western and Arab approach to knowledge. They collected the best thought from around the world, translated and then propagated it much more inclusively.

[@khanna9paresh]

@Mani The West looted, never gave credit or royalty for the inventions it looted from across the world and deprived people from their original inheritance and did this in the most brutal ways . You are observing correctly but ignoring the gross and most barbaric things West did. Also, to correct you - Brahmans never dis-allowed anyone to learn sanskrit. Infact every one knew sanskrit in the pre-islamic and pre-christian era. It was the language of conversation of the common Hindu Man. Every script was in Sanskrit - religious, scientific or otherwise. You are reading the wrong sources if they tell you otherwise. I wish though that Sanskrit ought to have been kept secret and dis-allowed to be taught to anyone so that none of the written above happened. Only sanskrit being open to everyone attracted every invader and colonizer towards India like Honey bees towards the Flower. Please improve the sources that you are learning from. We gave enough to the world than being blamed today that we were at fault. Please stop believing this, your ancestors lost alot for you to say that they were at fault in the first place. Correct your course. Wish you well. Stay safe.

[@money5434]

@@khanna9paresh Isn't it true that Lord Rama punished a Shudra by melting a coin in his ear because he had happened to listen to a Vedic Mantra? Will you deny that? It is quite unbelievable that the East India company, the French and the Turks invaded India because of the Sanskrit language.

[@khanna9paresh]

​@@money5434 No it is not true at all that Sh. Raam did anything like that. It is stupid even to believe it for a second. Kindly educate yourself with better mediums to learn more about Itihaasa of Bharat! Seconly, Yes They all invaded indirectly because of Sanskrit. It is a scientific language which predates the history of discoveries like - Earth being round, Sun going around the earth, Gravity, Cosmetic Surgery, Astronomy and Medicine and various texts like these which were stored in Sanskrit in the Nalanda and Takshshila Universities. It was for this knowledge and the value that spices had in the global market which lured all invaders and colonizers towards India. You need to improve the sources that you are learning from. You seem to have all the wrong Ideas about India and its glorious past. Sorry for you.

[@shrimaharaj6929]

Thank you Professor ! Love from 🇮🇳

[@kushaq1173]

Thieves will be thieves.🤗

[@CathySander]

@wraggem: Come to think of it...I was displaying my own naive reactions. Now I know better. Thanks!

[@mikev4621]

Principia without diagrams would be of limited value because Newton used geometric proofs for the whole book, not calculus