Did Newton have mild autism?
The Brilliant Yet Eccentric Genius: Sir Isaac Newton
An old widow, mistaking Newton for a madman due to his odd behavior, was quickly corrected. Newton was not insane—he was deeply engrossed in studying the refraction of light. Specifically, he was observing phenomena on the surface of soap bubbles, a crucial part of his groundbreaking research.
Newton’s work on light led to major scientific advancements, including the invention of the Newtonian Reflecting Telescope, which greatly improved astronomical observations.
In his famous paper, "A New Theory About Light and Colors", Newton proved for the first time that white light is composed of seven different colors and that monochromatic light exists.
Despite his brilliance, Newton’s personality was notoriously difficult. He often displayed irritability, impatience, and extreme sensitivity to criticism, while basking in praise. By the age of 50, he suffered from depression and paranoia, showing signs of severe nervous breakdowns.
Modern researchers, such as Dr. Baron-Cohen from Cambridge and Dr. Ioan James from Oxford, have suggested that Newton likely had Asperger’s Syndrome, a mild form of autism. Individuals with Asperger’s typically exhibit three main traits:
- An intense, obsessive focus on specific intellectual fields.
- Poor social skills and limited interest in interpersonal relationships.
- Difficulty communicating effectively with others.
Newton's obsession with mathematics and physics, coupled with his dislike of conversation, fits this profile perfectly.
Born prematurely, Newton was so frail at birth that doctors doubted he would survive. Astonishingly, he lived to the age of 84—about twice the average life expectancy of his time—and became one of the greatest minds in human history.
In addition to his scientific achievements, Newton was deeply devoted to theology.
For over 50 years, he studied the Bible, convinced that it held divine secrets. According to his interpretation of the Book of Revelation, the end of the world will occur in 2060. He predicted it would follow catastrophic events such as a massive plague, global fires, and the final battle between good and evil (Armageddon). Afterward, he believed Christ would return and saints would reign on Earth for a thousand years.
This extraordinary prediction was discovered in a Latin manuscript housed at the Hebrew National Library in Jerusalem and was first revealed to the public by the BBC in 2003.
Sir Isaac Newton remains a symbol of both intellectual genius and human complexity, reminding us that even the greatest minds can be profoundly human.