Newton, Darwin, Einstein


Nature and Nature's Laws lay hid in Night.
God said, "Let Newton be!" and All was Light.

Alexander Pope


Introduction

Almost everyone has heard of these three famous names, but how much do we really know about them? Why were they so important? Why do their ideas continue to be influential today?

Newton, Darwin, and Einstein are best known as scientists, but their influence goes way beyond this. They are much more than names in physics, astronomy, or biology textbooks. How have their ideas changed the way we view the universe? Why were the theories they developed so influential beyond the realm of science? These are some of the general questions that we'll be examining in this course.

To encourage a critical approach, we will look at broader questions such as:

Course Information

Class Photo (Summer 1999)
Class Photo (Summer 2000)
Class Photo (Summer 2001)
Student Comments (Summer 1999)
Student Comments (Summer 2000)
Student Comments (Summer 2001)
NEDE 1999: Dickinson College (Syllabus/Schedule)
NEDE 2000: Hamilton College (Syllabus/Schedule)
NEDE 2001: Franklin & Marshall College (Syllabus/Schedule) [Word Document]

Useful Links

What is Science?
What is History?
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
General History of Science Resources
Internet History of Science Sourcebook (Fordham University)