Question

What analogy did Isaac Newton use to describe the world?

a) The world is like a complex clockwork mechanism
b) The world is like a vast ocean of knowledge
c) The world is like a living organism
d) The world is like an ever-changing mosaic of events

Answer 1

Isaac Newton described the world using the analogy of a clockwork mechanism, highlighting the predictable, mathematical nature of the universe.

Step-by-step explanation:

Isaac Newton used an analogy to describe the world as similar to a clockwork mechanism. This analogy reflects the Newtonian view of the universe, which during the Enlightenment period, suggested a cosmos regulated by predictable, mathematical laws, much like the inner workings of a mechanical clock. Newton's laws marked the transition from the Renaissance to the modern era, influencing the way people understood the physical universe, no longer requiring a deity's constant intervention, as reflected in the machine-like predictability of celestial and earthly movements.