#robert hooke

An interesting conversation between Simon Schaffer and the author of The Tragedy of Thomas Hobbes that took place at the Royal Society in 2008.

It's a good listen whether you've seen/read the play or not, because it provides a basic summary on the story as well as a bit of background info on Boyle, Hooke, Hobbes, and other characters.

Shaplin even comes out and states that Newton was the intended villain of the play while Hooke was the sympathetic figure, which was very clear by the ending of the play.

I had originally taken Boyle's betrayal of Hooke to be due to Newton replacing him as a more evolved type of philosopher, but according to Shaplin it was because the Royal Society began to cannibalize itself. Once they eliminated Hobbes, Hooke became the next "atheistic threat" with his heretical theories of evolution and extinction.

They also talk about how Hooke "took drugs and got high every night", which is, of course, an oversimplification of his self-medication habits. But this is the first time I've heard anyone claim that his substance abuse led to creative inspiration, which doesn't sound completely implausible, now that I think of it...

Newton: The Scientist who Discovered the Law of Gravitation

Chapter 4, Part 2

Isaac's response to Hooke's criticism is to accidentally out himself for copying Hooke's homework. After being put into his place, he throws an autistic tantrum and threatens to rage quit the RS. Hooke is then forced to kiss Isaac's butt and make up under threat of being flogged to death by the other Fellows who are terrified of losing their new golden (man)child.

Newton: The Scientist who Discovered the Law of Gravitation

Chapter 4, Part 1

Barrow scolds Isaac for being a whiny little hikkikomori, but his plan to impress the King with his protege's telescope is so successful that Newton is at last inducted into the Royal Society.

Now, to address the elephant in the room: Boyle looks like he's being piloted by a sentient mass of corn cobs, while Hooke resembles Jinmenken from Yokai Watch had a lovechild with handsome Squidward.

Also I'm pretty sure the glass maker they're referencing is none other than Christopher Cock.

I just realized that Tomkin is a synonym for Tampion/Tompion (gun plug).

Now we know why Hooke seemed to randomly misspell Thomas Tompion's name as Tomkins that one time!