Enlightened Spirituality & Skepticism

Music Lead In: “Celtic Tune 10.1”

Script: 

Jane: “Hello and Welcome to London’s most acclaimed night show- The Frisky Fox. My name is Jane O’Riley - and I am overjoyed to welcome you into the studio tonight. We will be discussing the new frames of thought being pushed within our ever-enlightened society. First, we will talk with our handsome and intelligent group of new thinkers - who like to call themselves scientists and philosophers… Voltaire and Mr. Isaac Newton. Welcome gentlemen.

Voltaire and Newton: “So good to be here with you Jane.”

Jane: “Oh no, you both are too kind. Next, I want to welcome our feebler minded Londoner - Tomas Bunyan, who will be speaking on behalf of our ever-rising Baptist population. Welcome Sir.

Thomas: Pleased to be here Ma’am

Jane:  I would also like to welcome Elijah Fox and his lovely wife Mary to the studio. They will be representing London’s Society of Friends.

Elijah & Mary: “Good to be here.”

Jane:  Last but certainly never least, our Puritan comrade- Jacob Bates is joining us.

Bates: “May the Lord spare your souls.”

Jane: “Yes, well… Welcome all, we are overjoyed and very filled with anticipation for the coming discussion of progressive thought as well as London’s traditional views. And we will be back to the studio right after with friendly word from John Locke University.

Commercial Break 1 (background music – “Far From Home 30.1”):

Announcer 1: Do you worry about your sons? Feel like their heading towards the dark side?! Want them to behave morally? If so, enroll them in the school of John Locke where we will whip them into shape. Our 6 step approach will drive home morality through a thorough education. A moral education is more important than rubies or gold. Our school will teach your young men to be virtuous. We do not promise scholars of this world, but we do guarantee godliness (Deism).

Johnny: My life was changed when I was forced to come to this wonderful school. I was caught up in the ways of this world, and was headed towards damnation. At John Locke, we are whipped…literally… and are forced to accept the practices of the Lord. It was the best decision my parents made for me! Thanks mom and dad!

Announcer 1: There you go London; you heard it straight from the horses’ mouth. Come check out this god-fearing institution and your boy’s lives will never be the same!

Topic: Science vs. Deism

Jane: Sirs and ma’am would be so kind as to introduce yourselves to the general audience. Sir Isaac Newton, we will start with you.

Newton: Yes, ma’am. Honored to be here with you tonight. I am practicing physicist, a natural philosopher, a mathematician, an astronomer, and an alchemist (Isaac Newton).

Jane: Wow, well that is quite a mouthful! May I tell you that I am one of your most devout fans. Sir Newton, it has come to my attention that you have been working hard on your scientific discoveries… would you care to elaborate?

Newton: I have been examining something I like to call Universal gravitation, as well as the three laws of motion (Isaac Newton).

Jane: Fascinating!

Newton: Thank you. I have also been looking at the principles of conservation, the  reflection of telescopes, and developing a mathematic technique which I think I will name Calculus (Isaac Newton).

Jane: I have heard talk of your GREAT vision. What exactly is this?

Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants” (Isaac Newton Quotes).

Jane: I assume you are speaking about Descartes and Galileo?

Newton: Indeed, I am. I worry that people will exploit Galileo’s discovery that the Earth is not the center of the universe, as well as my laws of motion and gravity, which states that the universe is a mere machine, kind of like a clock, instead of a work of God (Isaac Newton). “This beautiful system could only proceed from the dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being” (Isaac Newton Quotes).

Jane:  But, You, yourself have said that you reject the Church’s doctrine of the trinity…

Newton: Indeed, I have…but you should notice that I have written more texts on religion than on science. Most people see me as a mere scientist, but I do consider myself as a man of God (Isaac Newton). “God is the master creator whose face could not be denied in the face of the grandeur of all creation” (Isaac Newton Quotes).

Jane: I do not understand how you can have so much duality in your beliefs… Do you not think your discoveries on gravity could demystify what we know of religion?

Newton: “Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is and can be done” (Isaac Newton Quotes).

Jane: Voltaire, you have been quite in this discussion. Would you care to shed some light on the issues at hand? Sir Newton and I are in much discourse about religion and science. What do you think?

Voltaire: “What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. it is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason”(Voltaire Quotes, The).

Jane: This is your definition of God?

Voltaire: “God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh” (Voltaire Quotes, Brainy).

Newton: (agitated) “He is the God of order and not of confusion!” (Isaac Newton Quotes). I am sure of this!

Voltaire: (arrogant) “All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God. If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him” (Voltaire Quotes, Brainy).

Newton: (aggravated) “God is truth! Truth is to be found in simplicity, not in the multiplicity and confusion of things” (Isaac Newton Quotes).

Voltaire: (smug) “I am very fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom” (Voltaire Quotes, The).

Newton: (smug) “Oh, Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest what mischief thou hast done!” (Isaac Newton Quotes).

Voltaire: Sir Newton, “A witty saying proves nothing” (Voltaire Quotes, Brainy).

Jane: “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit” (William). Are you an atheist?

Voltaire: PSHAW! No! I am a deist.

Jane: Is there a difference?

Voltaire: “The universe is based only on reason” (Voltaire Quotes, The), Sir Newton has proven it.

Newton: A pox on you!

Voltaire: “The Bible is an outdated legal and moral reference…a metaphor, but still teaches good lessons…and a work of MAN, not a divine gift” (Voltaire).

Newton: PSHAW!

(door slams)

Jane: Ladies and Gentlemen of London, Sir Newton has taken his leave from the studio. I am terribly sorry. Voltaire, would you care to tell me more about this deism you speak of?

Voltaire: God exists!!! The world is accessible to facilitate human reason and laws that govern behavior. He does not interfere with human life and the laws of the universe. He is the watchmaker and the watch keeper. God wants us to behave morally (Voltaire).

Jane: But you reject the Bible. In the Bible, God has set down the morals and the rules that he wants us to live by.

Voltaire: The Bible denies us pleasure. Pleasure is morality and morality is pleasure. Is not a virtuous man a moral man? If so, a moral man may experience pleasure. “God will reward moral behavior and punish immoral behavior” (Voltaire).

Jane: Intriguing thoughts Voltaire- we are now going to hear a word from our sponsors. Thank you for joining us here in the studio.

Commercial Break 2 (background music – “On the Way to Ireland 30.1”):

Announcer 2: If you have any question as to whether you are a deist or not, join us on a three week retreat. Lectures will be given by our very own Matthew Tindal - specifically examining his book Christianity as old as the Creation .

Tindal: “God designed all Mankind should at all time know, what he wills them to know, believe, profess, and practice; and has given them no other means for this, but the use of reason” (Deism).

Announcer 2: (fast) applications will be accepted at Lincoln College, Oxford… limited space available… so get your tickets now… restrictions may apply

Commercial Break 3 (background music – “Until the End of Time 30.1”):

Announcer 3: Are you tired of smallpox? Are you afraid to lose your children, husband, or significant other? Tired of being dirt poor? If so, you may be a candidate for an Edward Jenner’s study. Jenner has found a likely vaccination for all this hoopla, but he needs willing souls to undertake this experiment. Jenner is willing to pay young, healthy boys to partake in the study. If you are interested, or know of someone who is eligible, please contact the Royal Society immediately (Jenner).

Jane: We are back in the studio with our traditionalists. Thank you all for joining us. Lets get started.  Thomas Bunyan, would you be so kind as to relay who you are to our dear Londoners listening tonight?

Thomas Bunyan: Ah yes ma’am I who you speak of. I am honored to represent my common man, the Baptists. I am the grandson of John Bunyan, the devout follower of Jesus, who preached unashamedly to the souls of our great country. You may be familiar with the fact that he was imprisonment for preaching because he lacked a preaching license. Grandfather wrote about the wonderful workings of the Grace of God in his book, which has become quite famous - The Pilgrims Progress.

Jane: Thank you Thomas. Now on to Elijah and his beautiful wife Mary. I am happy to have you here with us.

Elijah Fox & his wife Mary:  Yes, don’t go anywhere without my wife, she’s like the oil that keeps me ticking. We do everything together.”

Jane: Elijah is the great grandson of George Fox, the man credited to starting the Religious Society of Friends or the “Quaker” movement, as you in the audience are probably more familiar with.

Elijah: “Pleased to be here ma’am.”

Mary: “Aye, that we are!”

Jane: Lastly, Mr. Bates, would you please make your introduction to the audience??

Mr. Bates:  Why yes, Ms. O’Reily. I am Thomas Bates a humble servant of the Lord, and by His sovereignty I am here with you tonight. As Jane stated, I am a Puritan and ascribe to worship and doctrine that has been purified from worldly thought. The Lord Almighty and the Bible is our chief- not the church of England. I am happy to represent our ever growing Puritan population, by the grace of God.

Topic: Gender roles within society and the church

Jane: Thank you all for the introductions to our listening audience. Folks! I am delighted to bring you these diverse thinkers tonight, representing our ever-changing society. Tonight, I am going to begin by asking a couple questions - to this panel. Please feel free to comment and discuss these topics between one another. To begin: What are your views on the gender roles within your groups of thinkers and within your religious communities?

Elijah: “Well, I have always believed that the Lord created all people to be equals. This means that women, men, slaves, and masters are all on the same plane in the Lord’s eyes. That is how our community of Quakers sees the issue. My wife is here today with me because I believe that what she says is weighted just as much as my own opinion. What would you say Mary?”

Mary: That is right, we Quakers ascribe to 4 founding principles, and those are: the promotion of peace, Equality among people, Integrity, and simplicity. Women are seen as equals to all men. The Lord did not create us to be silent!!

Thomas: Just a bunch of crazy pacifists!

Jacob: That is a very interesting point Mary. I beg to differ, but the Bible specifically addresses the issue of Men and Women’s roles. Women are to take care of the home and children exclusively. They are to support their husbands and obey them in all things. Since they are sinful and decedents of Eve as seen in Genesis 3- their voice within society and specifically the Church should be much lower than that of a man’s. We men have to weigh their insights up to the Lord’s Word and Truth. The Bible backs up this claim exclusively. Do you dare go against the Word of God?!

Mary: I do not go against the Word of God, because that same word states gives honor and authority to women. Ester, Ruth, Mary Magdalene are just a several examples of women who were strong.

Jane: This brings up a very interesting point. What are your views lady and gentlemen about the sovereignty of the Bible?

Elijah: I do not dismiss the fact that the Bible was passed down from God to humans. But I believe that the Word of God is Christ, not the Bible.

Jacob: That is blasphemy!!

Elijah: Christ’s voice is stronger than any other authority.

Mary: We Quakers put precedence on listening and obeying the Spirit when He speaks. Our worship, our lives, our actions are dictated by “this Inner Light.” The inner Light creates personal insight. We do not have to have the Bible interpreted by a pastor or religious authority. Instead, God’s spirit resides within us and talks to each of us individually.

Elijah: My grandfather stated, “Christ has come to teach His people Himself” (George).

Jane: Thomas, do you agree?

Thomas: There is no doubt that the Bible is the Word of God, saying otherwise is blasphemy. I do agree with the Fox’s that one can interpret that Bible for himself - it does not have to be through a religious authority, like those crazy Catholics believe.

Jacob: May God spare their souls from the pits of hell!

Thomas: We Baptists encourage personal reflection and study of the Bible daily.

Jacob:  We puritans also require fervent study of God’s word, on a personal basis as well as within the community. The Bible is central and is the supreme authority over humanity. This shows us that God is in utter control. The plight of Christians is to ascribe holistically to the Word of God, which is the Bible. We will never be able to do this fully because we are finite specks of dirt- in the Lord’s eyes. We will never measure up to his holiness.

Jane: Ok, moving on… let us talk now about the issue of authority. Do you believe in hierarchy of the church? Where does the power of the Church lie? Thomas, we will start with you.

Thomas: We Baptists like to avoid hierarchy within the church. There are no bishops or popes found within our church walls!! But, we do have a pastor and deacons. In terms of a central governing authority - we don’t have one!

Jane: What do you think of government’s role in relation to the church?

Thomas: I do not that outside authority should be telling my church what to do. The government should not have a say in what we do within our walls. Church and state should be separate!!

Jacob: I completely agree with you Thomas. The only Head of the Church is Christ. Government should not have a say in our affairs. I would ask you- where is the authority in your church - in the form of human accountability?? It seems very weak in my opinion. Puritans pride themselves in their strong central government. This group of godly men brings the Light of God into our lives through discipline. May the Lord be praised!!

Elijah: The Quakers have long since had dealing with the government. Our Lord said that we will be persecuted for His name! We rejoice in this. Our dear brothers and sisters have been put to death for their Quaker values.

Mary: We do not condone a hierarchy within our community. All men are created equal. In the eyes of the Lord, the monarch and my daughter are seen as equals. People are people. The government can give us regulations - but we follow the voice of Christ.

Jane: Thank you Mary. Folks, this has been a very invigorating discussion. Thank you for you insights! Unfortunately, we are about out of time. Stay tuned for tomorrow night’s continuation of this discussion.

Closing Music: “Celtic Tune 30.1”

Bibliography

"Celtic Tune 10.1." Free Play Music. 26 Sep 2007. Freeplaymusic.com 2007 <http://freeplaymusic.com/>.

Ellyatt, Lauren. "Enlightenment Explained." Helium, Where Knowledge Rules. 6 Sep 2007. Helium, Inc. <http://www.helium.com/tm/496460/understand-enlightenment-beneficial-influence>.

“Enlightenment, The.” Washington State University 6 Sep 2007. <http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/hum_303/enlightenment.htm>.

"Far From Home 30.1." Free Play Music. 26 Sep 2007. Freeplaymusic.com 2007 <http://freeplaymusic.com/>.

“Isaac Newton Quotes.” Michael Moncur. The Quotations Page. 16 Sep 2007. QuotationsPage.com. 2007 <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Isaac_Newton/>.

"On the Way to Ireland 30.1." Free Play Music. 26 Sep 2007. Freeplaymusic.com 2007 <http://freeplaymusic.com/>.

“William Shakespeare Quotes.” Michael Moncur. The Quotations Page. 16 Sep 2007. QuotationsPage.com. 2007 <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/William_Shakespeare/>.

"Until the End of Time 30.1." Free Play Music. 26 Sep 2007. Freeplaymusic.com 2007 <http://freeplaymusic.com/>.

“Voltaire Quotes.” Brainy Quotes. 16 Sep 2007. BrainyMedia.com. 2007 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/v/voltaire.html>.

 “Voltaire Quotes.” Michael Moncur. The Quotations Page. 16 Sep 2007. QuotationsPage.com. 2007 <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Voltaire>.

Isaac Newton in Gulliver’s Third Book

It is common knowledge that Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels falls in the satire genre. However, the true definition of satire means a more general critique than what can be seen in “Book III”. Throughout the book, Jonathan Swift consistently parodies everything about Isaac Newton. Not only does Swift specifically criticize Newton, but he also criticizes Newton’s discoveries, the Royal Society, which Newton was the president of at the time the book was written and published, and Newton’s views on religion. It seems as if Swift did not understand anything about Newton. He did not understand the purpose in Newton’s projects, and Newton’s personal life. One might say that Swift just did not care for all things Newtonian.

According to Michael White, a biographer of Isaac Newton, Swift had visited Newton’s home on numerous occasions; however, he never mentioned Newton in his various published letters. It is not surprising that Swift would have a dislike for the actual person. Robert Lacey reports, “Isaac Newton did not, in fact, get on very well with this illustrious fraternity [Royal Society]” (237). Swift’s portrayal of Newton and his colleagues is often absurd and amusing. This is common ground that authors to this day remain to stand on. Throughout literary history “the scientist has contributed to a still current subliterary cliché which represents the scientist as at best eccentric and faintly comic, often alien, often somehow “unsound,” and frequently positively evil” (Millhauser 288). Millhauser goes on to say about scientists in literature, “He was, rather, many unsavory things in one person: wizard, alchemist, atheist, vivisectionist, poisoner – not to mention that bumptious fellow who went in for the Other Discipline” (304). The utter contempt that must have been felt by Jonathan Swift toward Isaac Newton will become clear through careful observation of the text.

First, Newton’s discoveries brought a great deal of controversy into focus in the Eighteenth Century mind. Throughout “Book III,” Swift brings this controversy into view. Newton’s discoveries in optics were the first few noted. “He believed that white light was composite and not pure…” (Berlinski 78). In his composite light experiment Newton drilled a whole in his window shutters. The daylight from outside beamed in as a narrow stream of white light. In the path of the stream, Newton placed a prism, which broke the light into various colors. Furthermore, Newton worked the experiment backwards in order to return the colored light to its original form, white light. The experiment worked, and today we may be tempted to say that was an ingenious discovery; but the Eighteenth Century mind would question the purpose of this experiment. This experiment is much like those performed in the Academy of Projectors in Lagado. For instance, one projector was trying to extract sunbeams from cucumbers, one wanted to return human excrement to its original form, and one wanted to have spiders weave colorful webs. Though the projectors saw the utility in their work, it was difficult for others to see. Likewise, it was difficult for Swift to see any utility in Newton’s work, though Newton was certain utility existed. “It is proposed that Swift regarded the Newtonian science as not only useless, but, more importantly, as being essentially immoral in its consequences” (Kiernan 710).

Other discoveries of Newton include universal gravitation, laws of motion, principles of conservation, the reflection of telescopes, and developing a mathematical technique called calculus. One question spurred the fame of this philosopher, why should the apple fall straight down toward earth, not up, or diagonally, but down? This is where the idea of attraction entered the mind of Isaac Newton. From this precept, Newton worked out that the planets move in an ellipse, and the three laws of motion, “the second of these explaining the power of gravity and how it determined the motion of the planets and their moons, the movement of the tides, and apparently the eccentric behavior of comets” (Lacey 238). For the first time in history there was a mathematical formula to work out how and why the universe behaves the way it does. Again, Modern man would venture to say this is the greatest discovery of all time, but during the Eighteenth Century, this discovery had no utilitarian value. How was knowing how the planets are going to behave able to help with the problems that many people in the era face? This is the question that led Swift to parody such a great scientific mind as Newton. However, it should be noted that the argument that Swift made then still rings true today. With all of the pestilence, war, famine, and death consuming many modern nations, why do governments continue to spend billions of dollars to see what the other side of Mars looks like, or how other galaxies appear? To Swift the answer made just as little since as it does to us today. In “Book III,” Swift states, “They have likewise discovered two lesser Stars, or Satellites, which revolve about Mars, whereof the innermost is distant from the Center of the primary Planet exactly three of his Diamers…” (144). Swift, himself, seems to not give us the answer to the unstated question that he has posed.

Swift does, however, go on to critique Newton’s mathematics. To the most intelligent educated man, Isaac Newton’s Calculus was very hard to understand. In Robert Lacey’s book Great Tales from English History, Newton often lectured “to the walls” at Cambridge University. Lacey also states, “students often avoided his [Newton’s] lectures” (238). Swift parodies this when Gulliver:

…was at the Mathematical School, where the Master taught his Pupils after a Method scarce imaginable to us in Europe. The Proposition and Demonstration were fairly written on a thin Wafer, with ink composed of a Cephalick Tincture. This the Student was to swallow upon a fasting Stomach, and for three Days following eat nothing but Bread and Water. As the Wafer digested, the Tincture mounted to his Brain, bearing the Proposition along with it. But the Success hath not hitherto been answerable, partly by some Error in the Quantum or Composition, and partly by the Perverseness of Lads, to whom this Boluse is so nauseous, that they generally steal aside, and discharge it upwards before it can operate, neither have they been yet persuaded to use so long an Abstinence as the Prescription required” (158).

Similar to the students at Lagado, the students at Cambridge literally could not absorb the information that Newton was teaching them. Swift argues the inability to understand and absorb such theories is due to “error” in the computations. These elaborate calculations were used throughout Newton’s lifetime for the purpose of finding answers to man’s greatest questions. To Newton, everything could be explained through the use of mathematics. Edward Davis and Michael Winship state, “Galileo science must be applied only to knowledge that was absolutely certain – the kind that only mathematic and logic could provide” (123). If Davis and Winship were to stand before Newton in Glubbdubdrib while making that statement, they may have had an argument on their hands. Newton chose to use mathematics to prove the existence of many speculative notions. Constantly Newton searched through mathematical equations for the existence of God. Once he figured out that each planet traveled on a specific elliptical path, Newton realized that the planets were attracted to the Sun, which lead them to follow this path. Furthermore, he suggested that comets were God’s method of restarting the slowing universe. To Swift, questioning nature that we cannot control is irrelevant, and all scientific discoveries should benefit mankind.

The lack of utility in Eighteen Century Europe was a growing problem. Therefore, the problem that Swift had with Newton was not entirely scientific. Swift believed there was a lack of morality when it came to ‘philosophizing.’ Scientists in Laputa and Lagado were so focused on their discoveries and themselves that they were unaware of the world around them. This is similar to the science of Swift’s era. He felt that Newton’s science had a “tendency to lead men away from their moral fulfillment” (Kiernan 711). This cynicism could be due the widespread starvation of many of Swift’s fellow Irishmen. He felt that the money spent on these outrageous experiments could benefit his fellow countrymen. One particular section of the story echoes Swift’s frustration with the philosophers of his time:

In these Colleges, the Professors contrive new Rules and Methods of Agriculture and Building, and new Instruments and Tools for all Trades and Manufactures, whereby, as they undertake, one Man shall do the Work of Ten; a Palace may be built in a Week, of Materials so durable as to last for ever without repairing. All the Fruits of the Earth shall come to Maturity at whatever Season we think fit to chuse, and increase an Hundred Fold more than they do at present; with innumerable other happy Proposals. The only Inconvenience is, that none of these Projects are yet brought to Perfection; and in the mean time, the whole Country lies miserably waste, the Houses in Ruins, and the People without Food or Cloaths (150).

Furthermore, the constant “projecting” keeps the men from living their life to its fullest extent. This is reflected in the life of Isaac Newton. At the age of eighty-three, when Gulliver’s Travels, was written, Newton had never married. He never had seemed to have done anything to suggest that he had actually lived his life. Swift would argue that Newton’s quest was actually a quest for immortality, rather than that of reason.

To gain immortality in the Eighteenth century, one had to gain fame. From ancient history, men had discovered three tactics guaranteed fame: be in a position of power, be a notorious criminal, or make important discoveries. The latter being the tactic that Swift believed Newton was consumed with. “The tactic is applied in the episode of the Struldbruggs by turning the metaphorical immortality of those who have fame into literal immortality. Thus the lives of the Struldbruggs ironically parallel the lives of those who pursue fame in the real world” (Fitzgerald 492). For this reason, the Struldbruggs can be viewed as a direct parody on Newton. First, they do not seem to be able to relate or talk to their mortal neighbors. They come to a point when they can no longer enjoy the taste of food and drink. Therefore, the Struldbruggs, like Newton, do not enjoy the pleasures in life. Again, Swift leads us to believe that Newton is one of the people being parodied by speaking of how much they are hated by others. Swift states, “They were not only Opinionative, Peevish, Covetous, Morose, Vain, Talkative, but uncapable of Friendship…” (180). Furthermore, after eighty years old the minds of the Struldbruggs begin to deteriorate; therefore, they are removed from their employment, and property, which their heirs take over. As previously noted, at the time the novel was released, Isaac Newton was eighty-three years old. The removing of Struldbruggs from their place of employment could have been a hint to the members of the Royal Society that Newton had out lived his usefulness, and should be replaced.

Unexpectedly, Swift has Gulliver toy with the notion of living the life of those who wish to become immortal. This is a extremely tempting fantasy to Gulliver until he realizes in order to reach immortality, one has to give up much quality of life and one’s soul. For him, it would be horrid to be seconds from death for an eternity. Swift has Gulliver state, “The Reader will easily believe, that from what I had heard and seen, my keen Appetite for Perpetuity of Life was much abated. I grew heartily ashamed of the pleasing Visions I had formed, and thought no Tyrant could invent a Death into which I would not run with Pleasure from such a Life” (181). Therefore, to Swift, there comes a point in time that a person can no longer contribute to the betterment of mankind. When a person no longer is capable of discovering the smaller pleasures in life, such as companionship, they are no longer capable of bringing the future closer to utopia.

On the subject of utopia, Swift warns that a utopian society cannot exist unless all of mankind is freed from suffering. Because Swift did not see utility in the discoveries of Newton, Newton seemed to be the perfect target for “Book III.” “The story of Laputa made it possible to condemn Newtonian science because of its inhumanity, which is what Swift intended” (Kiernan 712). Newton’s intentions are arguable. On the one hand, he seems to have made a discovery that had a cascading effect, which has led to the comforts that we enjoy today. On the other hand, he felt that his discoveries were a way to prove the divinity of God. For this reason, Newton has been painted as a devout theologian. To Swift, a man cannot be both theologian and philosopher. In Laputa, Swift describes how incompatible science and mathematics were when Gulliver was fitted for a new suit of clothing. Swift stated, “He first took my Altitude by a Quadrant, and then with Rule and Compasses, described the Dimensions and Out-Lines of my whole Body, at which he entred upon Paper, and in Six Days brought my Cloths very ill made, and quite out of shape, by happening to mistake a figure in the Calculations” (136). The six days was representative of the creation story. In six days, God created the Heavens and Earth. In six days, Gulliver’s clothing was created with faulty calculations. During the Eighteenth Century, it was common knowledge that Newton was using mathematics “to compute when the Church of Rome would become the 11th Horn of the 4th beast in prophet Daniel’s vision” (Zacks 258). Furthermore, Newton’s work was to prove the existence of God. Instead, the discoveries lead to a new religion in which “the Breed of naked sheep” were led astray by Voltaire (Swift 154). In essence, the discoveries made by Newton unraveled the long withstanding work of the already fractured Church.

For the first time, it had been proven that “science contradicted Scripture” (Millhauser 302). The mystery and awe had been stolen away from the Christian faith. Swift felt that Newton and his astronomy colleagues “have great faith in judicial astrology, although they are ashamed to own it publickly” (138). Often Newton defended his position for discovery as the proof of the existence of God, who is still active in the world. However, his discoveries lead to the idea of an absent god. Swift warned that there was great danger in this way of thinking. He felt that the work of philosophers was being done in order to exalt themselves above God. Colin Kiernan paraphrases Swift as stating, “ Man should not magnify himself, nor demean God, to the point where he believes that, by his own powers, he can derive absolutes other than those given by God” (720). Newton, however, would argue that his discoveries prove the existence of God and do not debunk the Creator. In regards to Newton’s discoveries Richard Westfall quotes Newton as stating, “this most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being” (Westfall 155). It seems Newton and Swift would never see eye to eye on their ideas.

Newton felt that his discoveries could lead to a utopian society. However, Swift argued the failure to work for the betterment of mankind could bring no man closer to utopia or to God. There is, throughout “Book III,” a direct attack on Isaac Newton, his discoveries, the Royal Society, Newton’s religious beliefs, projects, and personal life. Though, in present day society, utility can be found from the discoveries that Newton made so long ago; the experiments he conducted in the Eighteenth Century made no sense to the modern gentleman. There was no way that Swift could have foreseen Newton’s impact on the world that we live in. It is important to understand that “Book III” was not solely a critique on Newton, although he was a leading, unseen character. Swift’s goal was to critique the various institutions that broke down he morality of all mankind and oppressed the masses. Though there may have been Gulliver’s Travels if Newton had never discovered a thing, in most probability, “Book III” may not have been as interesting.

Works Cited

Berlinski, David. Newton’s Gift. New York: Free Press, 2000.

Davis, Edward B. and Michael P. Winship. “Early Modern Protestation.” Science & Religion: A historical Introduction. Ed. Gary B. Ferngren. Maryland: Johns Hopkins U P, 2002. 117-129.

Fitzgerald, Robert P. “Swift’s Immortals: The Satiric Point.” Studies in English Literature. Vol. 24. Houston: Rice UP, 1984. 483-496.

Kiernan, Colin. “Swift and Science.” The Historical Journal 14.4 (1971): 709-722.

Lacey, Robert. Great Tales from English History. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2004.

Millhauser, Milton. “Dr. Newton and Mr. Hyde: Scientists in fiction from Swift to Stevenson.” Nineteenth-Century Fiction 28.3 (1973): 287-304.

Swift, Jonathan. “Gulliver’s Travels.” Gulliver’s Travels: Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Albert J. Rivero. New York: W.W. Norton, 2002. 1-250.

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