Michio Kaku on the Universe

[Tobie]

Listening to how Isaac Newton basically invented calculus blows my mind. I mean, he must of been a clever bastard to come up with that shit all by himself.

Yeah, Newton was one in a million, figuratively speaking, or more like one in a billion. Many of his contributions to human knowledge are relevant today, and others served as the foundation for the likes of Einstein to build upon.

I have in the past (and to my shame) found it easy to think of earlier cultures as unsophisticated and ignorant. While there is some basis in truth to that as throughout the majority of human history, the common people were largely uneducated and illiterate, when you look at the accomplishments of those who were educated... ...all the way back to the ancient Romans, Greeks, Chinese [and many, many others, omissions are unintentional]... ...we can see what human ingenuity is capable of.

I can only imagine how things might appear today, had it been possible for broader education and development of human potential.

Newton actually stopped English mathematics progressing for a while; he did invent calculus (So did Leibnitz, using different notations - modern calculus stems from Leibnitz's work) but refused to let it progress beyond what he did. There's no doubting he was a genius, but he was more than a bit of a prick.

[Anomalocaris]

What Newton did was more than invent calculus and propond the theory of gravity. Those are merely great technical achievements. He formalized the concept of mathematical principle of natural sciences. People might argue whether the technical achievement of Einstein or Planck outshorn those of Newton. They miss the point. Newton built the theater in which he also put on the first act.. All subsequent physicists merely put on the different acts in the same theater Newton had built. There are scientists, there are great scientists, and then there is THE Scientist.

[Tobie]

What Newton did was more than invent calculus and propond the theory of gravity. Those are merely great technical achievements. He formalized the concept of mathematical principle of natural sciences. People might argue whether the technical achievement of Einstein or Planck outshorn those of Newton. They miss the point. Newton built the theater in which he also put on the first act.. All subsequent physicists merely put on the different acts in the same theater Newton had built. There are scientists, there are great scientists, and then there is THE Scientist.

I'm not denying that he's probably the greatest scientist to have ever lived. I'm just saying that he could have been greater if he wasn't a twat.

[Angrboda]

Where the hell did you get that quote from?

I love the quote and can easily imagine Kaku feeling this way; however, his prominence as a public educator of sorts makes me skeptical.

I see the quote being used in signature tags and has popped up in various discussion forums over the last few days, but I cannot find any proper attribution.

---

To be clear, I would be delighted if this is actually a Kaku quote.

The earliest I see this quote appearing is October 2009. Dr. Kaku has an email address listed on the contact page on his website. It sounds like it's for his publicist, but who knows. I sent an email asking for confirmation of the quote. I'll see if I get a response.

[Welsh cake]

What Newton did was more than invent calculus and propond the theory of gravity. Those are merely great technical achievements. He formalized the concept of mathematical principle of natural sciences. People might argue whether the technical achievement of Einstein or Planck outshorn those of Newton. They miss the point. Newton built the theater in which he also put on the first act.. All subsequent physicists merely put on the different acts in the same theater Newton had built. There are scientists, there are great scientists, and then there is THE Scientist.

He was a complete twat. Go google his history and dealings with Robert Hooke to find out just how jealously arrogantly twatish twat the twat was. Not to mention his role in the executions of counterfeiters.

Glad he's LONG dead.

[Anomalocaris]

.

Glad he's LONG dead.

Easy for you to say, having benefited every day of your life from the fact that he had lived.

[Welsh cake]

.

Glad he's LONG dead.

Easy for you to say, having benefited every day of your life from the fact that he had lived.

Someone else would have discovered what that bastard didn't practically plagiarize from others.

Its like Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray, and Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison all over again. History is nothing but a testament to how much of a complete dickfest the human race has had and how its behaved towards its own self, hindering progress and snubbing intellect wherever it can be found. >:c

[Napoléon]

I love how welsh cake decides to take a turd on my thread even though he supposedly has me on ignore.

[Angrboda]

I love how welsh cake decides to take a turd on my thread even though he supposedly has me on ignore.

Your thread? Last I checked, nobody "owns" a particular thread, with the possible exception of moderators and staff.

[Napoléon]

Your thread? Last I checked, nobody "owns" a particular thread, with the possible exception of moderators and staff.

Who the fuck said I owned it? I referred to it as 'my' thread because I made it. Thanks for putting words in my mouth though.