Geometry no Friend to Infidelity.docx

Geometry no Friend to Infidelity.docx

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GeometrynoFriendtoInfidelity

GeometrynoFriendtoInfidelityGeometrynoFriendtoInfidelity:

or,ADefenceofSirIsaacNewtonandtheBritishMathematicians,InaLettertotheAuthoroftheAnalyst.WhereinitisexaminedHowfartheConductofsuchDivinesasintermixtheInterestofReligionwiththeirprivateDisputesandPassions,andallowneitherLearningnorReasontothosetheydifferfrom,isofHonourorServicetoChristianity,oragreeabletotheExampleofourBlessedSaviourandhisApostles.

ByPHILALETHESCANTABRIGIENSIS（JamesJurin）

Nedeusintersit,nisidignusvindicenodusInciderit.TheContentsMathematiciansaccusedofInfidelity,ofpervertingotherpersonstoInfidelity,andoferrorintheirownscience.TitlepagetotheAnalystgiveshopesofaMathematicalDemonstrationoftheChristianReligion.Thisnotattempted.NomorecertaintyinthemodernAnalysis,thanintheChristianReligion.NohonourtoChristianityfromthiscomparison.DesigntolessenthereputationofSirIsaacNewtonandhisfollowersandtheirscience.Mathematicksausefulscience.Nottoomuchstudied.Oughtnottobedepreciated.Reasonforthisdesign.IfMathematiciansareInfidels,itoughtnotinprudencetobepublished.

ObjectionagainstourSaviour.Noroomforthisobjectioninourdays.Thereputationofadversariestoberuined.OdiumTheologicum.NotthepracticeofourSaviourandhisApostles.TheyallowedwisdomandreasontoInfidels.TheChurchofChristinnodanger.ThepropermethodofopposingMathematicians.Aninscriptionforpulpits.ZealoftheClergy.ExamplesetthembytheAuthoroftheAnalyst.Solemnhymnproposedtobesungbythemtohishonour.MathematiciansmistakeninthemethodofFluxions.Maybegoodreasonersnotwithstanding.Adangerousundertaking.Unnecessary.Thebestreasoners,thebestChristians.

DoubtwhetherzealforChristianitywerethemotivetowritingtheAnalyst.Reasonforthatdoubt.ThatAuthor'sformerbehaviourtoMathematicians.Truemotivetothisundertaking.Thetreatmenthehasgiventosomeofthegreatestmen.Hispresumptionandvanity.HisproofofInfidelityagainstMathematicians.AproposaltohangorburnalltheMathematiciansinGreatBritain.WickednessandfollyoftheirAccusers.ExtremecredulityoftheAuthoroftheAnalyst.UnlikelyhoodofInfidelityintheclearestreasoners.ReputationofMathematicksgivesnoauthorityinDivinity,LaworPhysick.

ProvedfromtheexampleofDr.BarrowandSirIsaacNewton.ObjectionsagainstthemethodofFluxions.Fluxionsobscuretowhatreaders.Cleartoothers.DisingenuityoftheAuthoroftheAnalyst.FalsereasoninginFluxions.Firstinstanceoferror.Greattriumphuponthis.Nogreatoccasionforit.Caseproposedforunmathematicalreaders.AFrenchMarquisaccusedofusingtoolittleceremony.Injusticeofthisaccusation.SirIsaacNewtonchargedwithusingtricksandartifices.Blindnessoftheaccuser.Adifficultcase.TwowaysofendingaMathematicaldispute,SirIsaacintheright.Finalcauseofhisproceeding.Ajustreasonforhisproceeding.Velocityofarectanglewhat?

Assbetweentwobottlesofhay.WhisperfromaGhost.Momentofarectanglewhat?

SirIsaac'sproceedingmoregeometricalthanthatproposedbyhiscensurer.Thecensurer'swantofcaution.Advicetohim.SirIsaac'sforesight,humanity,prudenceandcaution.

Dangerofthosewhounadvisedlyattackhim.Anobjectionprevented.Ascrupleremoved.SecondinstanceoferrorinthemethodofFluxions.Twoinconsistentsuppositions.NodangertoReligionfromsuchreasoners.HorribleblunderchargeduponSirIsaacNewton.Inquiredinto.ProvedtobelongtotheAuthoroftheAnalyst.ArtsandfallaciesimputedtoSirIsaacNewton.Notwanted,norusedbyhim.SirIsaacNewtonsupposednottobesatisfiedwithhisownnotions.

Injusticeofsuchasuppositionwithregardtohim.Ortopreachers.OrtotheAuthoroftheMinutePhilosopher.SirIsaac'swordsmisrepresentedonpurposetodrawafalseinferencefromthem.Truthsupposedtoarisefromthecontrastoftwoerrors.AghostexorcisedwiththePrincipiaMathematica.SirIsaacNewtonproceedsblindfold.Fastasleep.Monstrouslylucky.Thetwoerrorsexaminedinto.Areatmostinfinitelysmall.Noerrorsatall.Amottounluckilychosen.

Abeamlessthanamote.ExcellencyofthemethodofFluxionsowingtothesepretendederrors.Mathematicianswhentheycommitthem,knowwhattheyaredoing.SirIsaacNewtonwasawareofthisobjection,andprovidedagainstit.Mr.Lockechargedwithcontradictinghimself.Intwoinstances.GeneralIdeasnecessarytoScience.DistinctionbetweenabstractandgeneralIdeas.AbstractIdeashowacquired.GeneralIdeashowacquired.ExampleofthemethodofacquiringabstractandgeneralIdeas,takenfromBotany.AnotherexampletakenfromGeometry.GeneralIdeaofaTriangle.Easilyacquiredbyalearner.HowtheAuthoroftheAnalystmayacquireit.NotmoredifficulttoconceivethantheIdeaofanyparticularspeciesofTriangles.OrthantheIdeaofanAngle.MrLockegroslymisrepresented.Firstinstanceofcontradictionexamined.Secondinstance.OneofMr.Locke'strapsforCavillers.Conclusion.ALettertotheAuthoroftheAnalyst.Cambridge,April10,1734.SIR,AsIamoneofthosemanypersonsinthisUniversity,whohaveprofitedbyyourlearnedwritings,andwhogreatlyadmirethedepthofthought,theforceofreason,andtheperspicuityofexpressionthatgenerallyappearsinthem;Icannotbutbeextremelysurprizedandconcerned,thataGentlemanofyourabilitiesshouldhavetakensomuchpainsnotonlytodepreciateoneofthenoblestofallthesciences,buttodisparage,totraduce,andeventodefameasetoflearnedmen,whoselabourssogreatlyconducetothehonourofthisisland,andtothegeneralgoodofmankind.YouwilleasilyseethatIspeakofMathematicks,andtheBritishMathematicians,andofthemannerinwhichyouhavebeenpleasedtotreattheminyourlatepamphlet,intitled,TheAnalyst.Thatdiscourse,itistrue,isseeminglydirectedtoonepersononly;butyouarenotgotthroughyourfirstsection,beforeyouspeakoftoomanymoreofthelikecharacterwithhim;andinthecontentstothatverysection,aswellasinalltherestofyourdiscourse,youtalkofMathematiciansinsogeneralamanner,thatIamafraidyourreaderswillthinkveryfew,ifanyofthoseGentlemenaretobeexceptedoutofthatnumber,againstwhichyoubringsoheavyacharge.

Thischarge,Sir,consistsofthreeprincipalpoints.OfinfidelitywithregardtotheChristianReligion.OfendeavouringtomakeothersInfidels,andsucceedinginthoseendeavoursbymeansofthedeferencewhichispaidtotheirjudgment,asbeingpresumedtobeofallmenthegreatestmastersofreason.Oferrorandfalsereasoningintheirownscience.This,SiristhechargeyouhavebeenpleasedtobringagainstourMathematicians,andIintendparticularlytoexaminewithwhatreasonandtruthyouhavedoneso.ButbeforeIdothis,Imustbegleavetomakeafewobservationsupontheintentanddesignofyourtreatise,theadvantagetobeexpectedfromit,theprudence,andjusticeandhonourofthisdesign;andafterthattoinquirewhetherthemotivetoyourwritingitwerereallywhatyoupretendandavow.

IfyourdesignweretobeguessedatfromyourTitle-page,whereinyouprofesstoexamine,whethertheobject,principlesandinferencesofthemodernAnalystsaremoredistinctlyconceived,ormoreevidentlydeduced,thanreligiousmysteriesandpointsoffaith,onewouldbeapttoconcludeyourintentwastoshew,thatthemysteriesofReligionmightbeasclearlyconceived,astheobjectandprinciplesofthemodernAnalysis;andthattheseveralpointsofourFaithmightbeasevidentlydeduced,astheinferencesofthatAnalysisarefromitsprinciples;or,inotherwords,thatyouwereabouttogiveusaMathematicaldemonstration,oroneofequalclearnessandcertainty,ofthetruthoftheChristianReligion.This,Isay,fromthewordsofyourTitle-pageonewouldnaturallytaketobeyourdesign:

butitissofarfrombeingso,thatthroughoutyourwholediscourse,thoughaddressedtoanInfidelMathematician,IdonotfindtheleastattempttowardsestablishingtheevidenceofourChristianFaith.

IfindthereforenootherwayofreconcilingyourTitle-pagewiththesubstanceofyourdiscourse,thanbysupposingyoupretendtoprove,thattheobject,principles,andinferencesofthemodernAnalysisarenotmoredistinctlyconceived,normoreevidentlydeduced,thanreligiousMysteriesandpointofFaith,i.e.thatthereisnomoreevidenceandcertaintyinthemodernAnalysis,thanintheChristianReligion.ButhowfaryoudohonourtoChristianity,byenteringintoacomparisonbetweentheevidenceandcertaintyoftheReligiontaughtusbyourSaviourandhisApostles,andtheevidenceandcertaintyofthedoctrineofFluxionsdeliveredbySirIsaacNewtonandhisfollowers,adoctrineinyouropinion,fulloferror,falsereasoning,manifestsophisms,fallaciousandinconsistentwaysofarguing,suchaswouldnotbeallowedofinDivinity,IshallleavetoyourbrethrentheDivinestoconsider.

Nottoinsistthereforetoolonguponthis,IshallnowdismissyourTitle-page,andshallcometoyourdeclaredandavoweddesign,which,itmustbeowned,youhavesteadilypursuedthroughyourwholediscourse;tolessenthereputationandauthorityofSirIsaacNewtonandhisfollowers,byshewingthattheyarenotsuchgreatmastersofreason,astheyaregenerallypresumedtobe;andtodepreciatethesciencetheyprofess,bydemonstratingtotheworldthatitisnotofthatclearnessandcertainty,asiscommonlyimagined.

Youmustexcuseus,Sir,ifthisdesign