‘Newton dépossédé!’ The British response to the Pascal forgeries of 1867

2003/12/01 by REBEKAH HIGGITT, Rebekah Higgitt · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Mathematics · Arts and Humanities · #Historical and Literary Studies #History and Theory of Mathematics #History of Science and Medicine

paper · doi:10.1017/s0007087403005144

Abstract

Between 1867 and 1869 Michel Chasles presented a series of manuscripts to the Académie des sciences, which suggested that Isaac Newton's claims to original discovery were unfounded. It quickly became apparent to the majority of the academicians that the manuscripts were forgeries, but Chasles was repeatedly allowed to state his case. This essay focuses on the responses to the affair from four British men of science: David Brewster, Augustus De Morgan, Robert Grant and Thomas Archer Hirst. It asks why they felt it necessary to add their voices to this debate and examines their various strategies for refuting Chasles's evidence.

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