While most of us didn’t fully appreciate it when we were introduced to the stuff in high school classes, certain mathematicians and scientists have made monumental contributions. Few reached the level of recognition enjoyed by Sir Isaac Newton.
Sir Isaac Newton is remembered as one of the greatest scientists of all time. He lived from 1642 to 1727… a ripe old age in those days. His contributions to science included: the universal law of gravity, the laws of force and motion, the laws of optics, and the founding of the mathematics known as calculus. These contributions surpassed those of almost every scientist before or since Newton.
Newton said, “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
He also said, “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.”
Sounds like a good example of Integrity, as defined in another Thought Post.
Yet, the historical records show two sides of Sir Isaac Newton:
- He illustrated the humility of a leader as the quotes above illustrate
- He engaged in a decades-long, public battle with the German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz, debating which one had been the first to create the mathematics of calculus. Newton had accused Leibniz of plagiarizing his calculus work.
Sir Sir Isaac Newton Gottfried Leibniz
By the time of this Newton-Leibniz dispute, Newton was a very well-known and well-respected leader in many fields of science and mathematics…and other fields. With such a reputation and long list of amazing and diverse accomplishments, what motivated the great Newton to engage in such a battle with Leibniz?
Perhaps the answer lies in a bit of thought around the Royal Society of London, a prestigious scientific community chartered by King Charles II in 1660. The founders created the Royal Society to promote scientific research and discussion. Newton was president of the ‘Royal Society’ from 1703 until his death 24 years later. Newton was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705. A few years later, during Newton’s term as president, the Royal Society accused Leibniz of plagiarizing Newton’s calculus work, created a committee to respond to Leibniz’s objection, and decided in favour of Newton, not Leibniz.
When that happened, like Newton, Leibniz was in his sixties. His reputation was ruined by the Royal Society’s decision. He died a few years later.
More than two centuries passed before Leibniz’s name was cleared…the history books now show both Newton and Leibniz as independent creators of calculus.
Today, three hundred years after the fury of the dispute, Leibniz is remembered as one of many great mathematicians.
Sir Isaac Newton is remembered as one of the handful of greatest scientists of all time.
While this story contains many lessons, one stands out in my mind.
Whether we are a fan of Newton or Leibniz, whether we believe Newton illustrated an error of Integrity, and regardless of who was right or wrong we must acknowledge the power contained in a focused group of people, acting in harmony toward a shared goal [a Mastermind Alliance, as defined by Napoleon Hill]. The Royal Society served as Newton’s Mastermind Alliance, a group of people working in harmony towards a common goal. Newton used that Mastermind Alliance.
Throughout the last half of his long life, Sir Isaac Newton had stature as a leader in the field of science. During his lifetime science was beginning to be respected. The Dark Ages had cleared and it was more acceptable to question European religious beliefs. That was especially true in England. Newton’s work validated recently-accepted scientific claims including ‘the Earth orbits the Sun, not vice-versa’. That aspect of Newton’s thinking resonated well with the English royalty. It also resonated well with England’s scientific community. Newton took advantage of that.
Newton used the Royal Society Mastermind Alliance to etch his name indelibly into front pages of the history books.
That’s a graphic example of what we mean when we say focusing the power of a Mastermind Alliance.
PS: both Newton and Leibniz are among my list of heroes.